Art Car Museum & Parade

We only spent an hour or so at the Houston ArtCar Museum; one hour on a rainy and humid Saturday afternoon.  That’s all it took to get excited about this long-standing Houston artistic tradition.  In a city full of museums, this one makes a lasting impression due to its unique character and charm, but also to the enthusiastic staff who clearly have a passion for what they do.

The ArtCar Museum was founded in 1998 by James & Ann Harithas, and falls squarely in the “alternative” contemporary arts category.  They pride themselves on featuring art (and artists) who would otherwise not get any kind of real exposure.  The art car community uses cars and other motorized vehicles as the medium for displaying their creativity, with results ranging from fantastic to bizarre to delightful.  And they certainly make quite a first impression – even the museum’s exterior promises a unique experience.

Art Car Museum, nicknamed "Garage Mahal"

We were greeted at the museum by Alicia, whose knowledge of and excitement about art – and current events, politics and Houston – made us feel instantly engaged in our surroundings.  She let us know that the museum is currently hosting a special FotoFest installation – “Faster, Faster, Faster: A Historical Photoessay of Auto Racing in the U.S., Great Britain, & France”  features photographs from Kermit Ross Laurent, Charlie Stanfill and Brian Hill.  (I wrote about the FotoFest Biennial Contemporary Photography Event back in March.)  There are also restored vehicles on display: a 1958 pink Cadillac, a 1932 Bantam roadster, a vintage Harley drag bike, and a 1961 Morris Minor.  This exhibit will remain until June 18th, after which the “usual” (if you can use that word) art cars will return for display. 

1958 Pink Cadillac

Alicia showed us photographs of various art cars in a book at the front counter, and she also regaled us with stories about some of her favorite art cars from past shows.  She explained that the cars are far from static exhibits, and that they are often used as performance pieces rather than a mere canvas on which art is created.  Hearing stories about the “David Koresh/Waco” art car (that went up in flames as a grand finale) and the Exxon-Valdez oil spill car (complete with men in suits handing out fake $50 bills to onlookers as “bribes” to secure their silence) made me anxious to hear more about what she told us next – there is an annual Houston Art Car Parade!  And, Alicia wondered, if we knew that it was the very next weekend – Saturday, May 8?  We did not.

The 22nd annual Art Car Parade is on May 8, 2010.  This year they expect over 250 art cars and up to 250,000 spectators.  And, as if I needed more reason to attend, this year’s Grand Marshal is none other than Dan Aykroyd!  Artists can submit “anything on wheels” and will come from across North America to participate in this celebration of art, culture and politics.  The parade is thrown by Houston’s Orange Show Center of Visionary Art, a non-profit organization dedicated to accessible, expressive contemporary art.  The parade is part of a full weekend of activities, starting with the Art Car Ball on Thursday May 6 and continuing on Friday May 7 with the Main Street Drag show and “Sneak Peak at Discovery Green” where cars will be on display, along with live entertainment for early-bird art car enthusiasts.  The weekend concludes with an awards ceremony and artist brunch on Sunday, May 9.

ArtCar Museum

Where: 140 Heights Blvd. (map)

Hours & Information: Open Wednesday-Sunday, 11 AM-6 PM; free admission.

Art Car Parade

When: Saturday May 8, 11 AM-3 PM.

Where: The parade route runs along the Allen Parkway; you can find a map of the parade route here.

Cost: Tickets for shaded seating available, $25 each; VIP tickets are available and include “the absolute best views” of the parade from the Houston Heritage Society (map) as well as open bar and catered food for $125 a ticket (children under 12, $15).  Free for spectators along parade route.

Photos from the personal collection of Christina Uticone & Joshua Payne