DEBRA'S CASTING

Debra's face was cast this afternoon so that Ben could do a variable edition of it for mounting on the bumpers, and any where else we may find to put a face.  And since we are the fortunate beneficiaries of her generous contribution to the project (the van), it seems only fitting that her face be 'plastered' across the front and back.   Clay and printmaking seems like a fun combination ( a dirty variable edition, get it?). Steve will include the entire process in his portfolio "Steve's Take", so stay tuned.  It'll be beautiful, I'm sure, especially since we got the slide show up and running.  In the meanwhile, Ben will create a multiple of Debra's 'portraits' and I think he's planning on other "body parts" to also incorporate for an interaction that's not so repetitious.  "Identifying" parts, he says.  He has the bumper in the clay studio.  Stay tuned.

WERE IN!!!

Thursday, Oct. 16: Several of us met today at Mellwood.  The rent has been paid!!!! The van was moved into the space and we attacked it: taping out the essentials we wanted to protect; beginning to prime the interior; figuring out how to remove the seats in order to remove the carpet (we want to use it for a template); untangling the bead screen; removing hubcaps and bumpers (Ben has that on campus to measure for Debra's face molds), discussing the logitstics of the antenna/brush; how the tire-spirals will work...and exploring the rooftop (not of the van, but of Mellwood), which seems to be an interesting rendezvous spot as indicated by some left-over evidence.  It was a pretty fast and furious two hours.  However, we need to figure out how to find bigger chunks of time to get this in a presentable form by December 4. I'll post some images from today after Steve processes.  I saw him several times crawling around in the belly of Mellwood shooting our antics. I also spoke with Rob about some exterior primers (he's my car restorer guru), and I'll look for his suggestions tomorrow (Friday) before I go over...I'll be there around 1:00-ish, so if anyone is available, c'mon over. Thanks to Alan Evil for the warning about the leaky ceiling and to Conrad Bladey (peasant) for all kinds of adhesion tips (see THINKTANK II). Hope to see some of you tomorrow.

We need: some cat litter to absorb some the oil on the floor (anyone have cats?); newspaper to mask out windows; more pens, brushes, and pencils donations (Randy brought in a small stash);...  

Thursday, October 16 (posted the 15th): We'll be meeting at Mellwood.  I'm meeting Debra at 9:00 a.m. to move the van there and then I'll be taking her back to her place so she can get her regular auto to get to campus. I'll see the rest of you in the 12:20-ish range.  Bring anything you've collected for the cause.  We can get things taped out we want to protect like the windows, and start on the interior (removing carpet and getting it measured.).  I don't know if Susan and Donna have sorted the drawing still-life materials, but someone might check with them to see if there's some of that to bring over.  We'll need some tools to take off bumpers for Ben to work with, bring what you can to accomplish that, keep in mind that we'll have to put them back on.  I haven't (obviously) scanned the sketches yet, but will within the next few days. I've been busy getting ready for my exhibit that opens on Sunday at Galerie Hertz.  The reception if from 1:00-4:00, so please stop by if you have the time.  It's new work I've done while on my sabbatical last year.

Later in the day: The above images will show the transformation of the studio space that Brian and Scott accomplished in a fairly short period of time.  Not only sweeping up the debris, but also driving and pushing the other two art cars out of the space.  In the third image you can see the one art car that we pushed out of the studio across Mellwood avenue into the gravel lot. 

Scott was a big help in getting the space ready for us.

There were a lot of decisions made a few days ago, some examples: Ben is going to cast Debra's face for a clay mold to line the bumpers, he'll manipulate each one so they'll be a little different, he's also going to address the antenna, it'll be a paint brush, and he's going to spiral the tires (thanks, Ben); Brent, Laurel and company will create a stained glass image of Van Gogh's, Starry Night, for the back window, they're working out the logistics of applying and stabilizing the image (thanks, Laurel and Brent).  This is an experienced glass group and they assured us it could be done by December 4 (that's our initial deadline); Samantha and Pascalle are going to start working on the seat covers, Although we may start referring to them as something different. They both have textile experience and can bring a new point of view to "seat covers" (thanks Samantha and Pascalle).  We need pens, pencils, and brushes donations. Please give what you can!  Bring them to my office or to Mellwood.  The Drawing program is donating some of the old still-life materials, such as old mannequin parts and other still-life materials that are not used very much but have been drawn a lot over the years (thanks Susan and Donna for sorting out those materials).  I have a lot of sketches, some of which I'll post in THINKTANK II when I get some room to breath.

Would loved to have had more help in the studio, may have to find a hot tub to soak off the car pushing....ohhhhh, I found one!

See you Thursday at the Mellwood space, and don't forget your magical camera and eye, Steve.

We Have Carpet

Laurel has a commitment from a carpet store to supply us with navy auto floor covering.  She spoke with the store manager about linoleum and he thought the carpet would be easier to install over the corrugated floor of the van.  Navy sounds kind of nice and offers all kinds of possibilities for interior changes, especially if we can get some clashing compliments in there. Pascalle, any ideas for seat covers?  Laurel is also going to meet with the store manager at Home Depot today. Good luck, Laurel. 

Art Car Central

We've gotten a great plug on Art Car Central and linked to it, so there'll be folks from all over keeping up with our progress.  Take some time and browse that site, there's a lot there to fuel our inspiration.  See you all tomorrow.

CHECK OUT:

www.artcar.blogspot.com

SANDING DAY: Final thoughts

Randy, Sarrah, Samantha, Pascalle, Kate, and Ben sanding the finish off the van.
Ben removing Caravan.  Sadly the Dodge emblem went as well in spite of my pleas.  I presented it to Debra.
The roughened finish.

The finish was ripped off the van today by almost everyone in the group.  We now have better pictures after our official photographer, Steve, processed his shots (see above).  Here are a few that I shot that are not near as fun.  I'm glad that we have also have good shot of Amanda sitting on top of the van with her palm sander buzzing.  I think we got the entire surface roughened in about an hour.  Debra looked out the window after we were finished to see how we had transformed her van and initially couldn't find it; she was still thinking shiney green.  Now it's dull grey.   

THINKTANK II

The sketches below are some of those generated a few days ago.  I didn't post them all since many weren't sketches words and were not legible after scanning.  If you click on the images you should get a larger version.  I personally like the idea of painting a "still-life" on the hood of the car.  We have some flat white Rustoleum that would make a good paint surface, but we'll have to use enamels or oils since our exterior base is enamels and will not be very stable for laytex/arcylic.  Oil based would work and then clear-coated.  There is also the idea of adding "art quotes" from everyone in inconspicuous areas, either your quotes or from your readings about artists and their work.  There was a Lowrider idea; hmmmm.  Creating a still life on the tops of the roof with discarded materials from the drawing studio.  Those old mannequin parts spray painted a brilliant gold might be nice?  We have some florescent colors now (spray); the beads are almost untangled, and the interior is almost 'primed', some activity between now and Tuesday would be a big plus for the cause.

SEE COMMENTS SECTION

Thinktank II is our current arena for honing a plan of attack.  I will see to it that visuals get posted, but you have to see to it that ideas get discussed and executed.

So here we go, the IUSARTCAR is going to be an Artcar. The green theme is abandoned, replaced by a near consensus artists expressing art for the sake of art, in the name of art, and for the love of art.

The second prep phase (wash me was the first) will be Thursday, October 9, from 12:20-1:10 at the same loading dock behind ceramics.  We're going to knock that glistening finish off and get it ready for paint, adhesives, and even some interior design considerations. Bring any materials that you feel would expedite the process.  Also, take a look at the wikihow website: www.wikihow.com/Create-an-Art-Car, there are some good and valuable tips here for us.

Update: There are some great shots from Steve, but I'm trying to figure out how to present them as a slideshow so they don't take us so much physical space.  Maybe I can archive the first batch so the second batch of you all in the studio could be posted in that spot. Lemme see....

OK, let's go......