ALEDO, IL – The corner near the old Aledo Junior High is alive with color during this year’s Rhubarb Fest, thanks to a hands-on art installation called Rhubarb Brush. Led by local artist Tara Guidinger and supported by the MC Art Collective and The Lofts at Aledo, the project is reviving the spirit of the former alley art tradition—with a fresh canvas and plenty of community flair.
Tara Guidinger is one of several artists inviting festivalgoers to express what rhubarb means to them using temporary whiteboard murals.
“It’s kind of replacing something they used to do years ago—the alley art,” she explained in an interview with WRMJ. “We’re just painting what Rhubarb Fest means to us or showing pride in the town of Aledo.”
For Tara, that pride shows up in a vivid mural inspired by her past work. “Last year we did the Doris Lee-inspired painting next to the stage,” she said. “This year, I’m doing the band shell with that in the background, and the sign that says ‘I ❤️ the Rhubarb Fest of Aledo, Illinois.’ And of course, Myah’s pie—that has to be in there too.”
The pie is indeed a symbol of the weekend, with thousands of slices served and savored across town. “It’s all the things I think about when I think of Rhubarb Fest,” she added.
As the artwork takes shape, Tara and fellow artists plan to keep working throughout the weekend. “We’ll be painting today and tomorrow if we don’t finish,” she said. While there’s no exact timeline on how long the installation will remain up, visitors are encouraged to stop by soon to catch the art in progress.
And as for the festival itself? “It’s really incredible to see it grow each year,” Tara said. “Aledo has a lot of wonderful things happening, and I think it’s just going to keep growing.”
WRMJ’s Terry James caught up with Tara during the festival. Tune in to Farm Country 102.3 all weekend long for continuing coverage and interviews from Rhubarb Fest 2025.