Seattle Art Cars

Despite high gas prices, the 12^th Annual Seattle Art Car Blow Out, will welcome more than 60 art cars to the Fremont Street Fair Saturday, June 18^th, from 10am – 8pm, and Sunday, June 19^th, from 11 – 6pm. The cars will be displayed in the Burke Building Upper Parking Lot, with entrance on N. 35^th St., just west of Evanston Ave. N.

This year’s Blow-Out features more out of town cars than ever. From Kansas, CHEWBARU, a Subaru covered in dental plates and paraphernalia, is a crowd favorite every time. STINK BUG, a VW bug from Florida covered in cigarette butts, will make its first appearance at SACBO. They will join cars that have traveled from up and down the West Coast, from southern California to British Columbia – and just around the block in Fremont. Also making a first time appearance is the YARN CAR, “as seen in Reader’s Digest,” by Tim Klein. This car features more than four miles of yarn.

The art car artists themselves are always happy to explain the ways and wherefores of their work. Phil Teller, creator of the Cyberdyne 1000 Transporter, says, “How do you make an art car? That’s easy. Buy a cheap car and chop away everything that isn’t art.” Materials used to make cars displayed this weekend include old computer parts, fridge magnets, river rocks, paint, personal accessories, animals, plastic toys, and more.

“Seeing a single art car is one thing, seeing a whole bunch together is really a trip” says Don Ehlen, driver of the fish covered Volkswagen, the Aquamobile.

“Art cars are the ultimate in accessible Public Art, says local artist Kelly Lyles. Ms. Lyles’ “Excessories Odd-yssey,” – a Honda Mini-van covered with women’s fashion – is her daily driver. She shares some of the benefits of driving an art car: “It deflects road rage, and gives strangers something to talk about. Besides, it’s easier to find in a parking lot, just look for all the gawking people.”