What the heck is an Art Car?
ART
CARS
Art cars are vehicles that have been creatively painted, sculpted, altered or decorated into mobile, public folk art. Usually by their individual owners, and often transformed into something way different than what the car designers in Detroit originally intended. Paint, glue, found objects ... Everything is fair game in the art car world where the credo "more is better" is often heard (and displayed!). Art cars are more than "a float", they are highly individualized creations that are permanently decorated and many are driven daily by their owners. There are several hundred art cars nationwide, including many in the Chicago area.
ART
CAR PARADES & EVENTS
If one art car is a strange sight to behold, just imagine a whole bunch
of art cars parading down "Main St." or gathered for a show where
you can get up close & personal with these mobile pieces of art. Since
the late 1980's, art car events have been springing up across the United
States in towns of all sizes. By far the largest gathering of art cars is
in Houston Texas, where the annual art car parade includes over 300 vehicles
and draws an estimated crowd of 200,000 onlookers.
Other art car parades and events take place in Baltimore, Minneapolis, Louisville,
Mt. Dora (FL), Lawrence (KS), Omaha, Steamboat Springs (CO), Seattle and
San Francisco. In addition to parades, many art car events also include
children's activities, illuminated cruises, performance art, and even whacky
& extravagant art car balls.
CARTOPIA
will be held June 2007 in Berwyn, Illinois. It's one of the newest &
best art car event in the Midwest. We expect many cars from across the country
with dozens of entries from Chicagoland. Cartopia will feature an art car
parade, beginning & ending at Cermak Plaza ... an Art Car Ball ... and
displays of art cars in various locations throughout the Berwyn Area. We
encourage you to participate - create your own art car, be a sponsor, or
just come on out to join in the fun.