Name/Title
049, Painted Car, Homage to Niki de Saint Phalle, Charles & Mary Anne Fried,Entry/Object ID
***Tags
2024, ***Description
various awards for other different entries- car is repainted in homage to new artist each year
Each year, since 2008, we re-create our vehicle by preparing a tribute to a particular artist who is inspiring to us and whose art would fit into the spirit of Houston Art Cars. Our tiny VW Cabrio has celebrated many artists and genres of art including Gaudi, Monet, Hans Edelmann, Japanese Art, Charley Harper, Klimt, Alebrije Art, Yayoi Kusama, Keith Haring and Victor Brauner. Many of the cars, such as this one were inspired by art we viewed at Houston's Menil Collection or by art we discovered while traveling. We begin by painting the entire car white, then proceeding to let the art of the honored artist spark our painting and decoration.
We moved to Houston in 1992, a move necessitated by a job. We loved our former town which made it hard to adjust to a new and very different climate and landscape in Houston. But we set out to explore and a visit to the Orange Show was one of our first expeditions. Soon we attended our first Art Car Parade as spectators. It was in 2008 that we decided to make our own car and it became a tradition that includes friends and family who come from out of town to attend. We pile as many visitors as possible into our car so they can have the full Art Car experience. We encourage them to come early in the week so that they can also participate in our favorite event, visiting schools with the Main Street Drag! Of course we also take them to visit Smither Park where we are lucky to be among the artists.
