Oh My God! 1965 Volkswagen Beetle (1981 - Present) Harrod Blank, Santa Cruz, California |
Oh My God! was the first Art Car created by artist and filmmaker Harrod Blank. At the age of 16, Blank became embarrassed by the blandness of his all-white Volkswagen and painted a rooster on the driver’s door. He never stopped decorating the car, which ultimately served as the springboard to his career in building Art Cars and documenting the Art Car movement. Oh My God! attracted a great deal of attention among Art Car owners and aficionados and enabled Blank to unite them as a family of kindred spirits whose work is displayed in this exhibit. Adorned with an ever-changing array of objects that express Blank’s individuality, Oh My God! is an example of an Art Car that can be regarded as a monument to its creator. Currently on display at the Art Car World Museum. |
|
 Camera Van |
An interactive Art Car that was inspired by an actual dream, the Camera Van has the ability to capture the amazed reactions of people who see it for the first time. While Blank had previously sought to document onlookers’ honest responses to Art Cars, he was unable to record their candid reactions since he could not get close enough without revealing his camera. The solution that appeared in his dream was to affix a large enough quantity of cameras to his car that no one would know which ones, if any, worked. Of the 2,500 cameras mounted to the van, six are functional Canons that shoot print film, and two are operational video cameras that transmit live images to the giant “filmstrip” composed of four TV monitors on the passenger side of the vehicle.
One of the best-known Art Cars in the world, the Camera Van has toured the US, England, Germany, and Canada capturing shocked expressions in over 5,000 photos. Currently touring the U.S. and soon Mexico. |
|
Pico De Gallo 1963 Volkswagen Beetle (1998) Harrod Blank, Berkeley, California |
The third Art Car by artist and filmmaker Harrod Blank,
Pico De Gallo (Spanish for a “spicy salsa”) was made to fully engage the public by encouraging their interaction. The car is equipped with a stereo system, rooftop stage, drums, keyboards, two electric guitars, an accordion, and numerous other noisemaking devices. Since all instruments function and are intended to be played, Pico De Gallo is popular at parties and public events. Currently on display at the Art Car World Museum. |
|