This is not your normal parade and these are not your normal cars.

What is an “art car?”

First, it must be a car, something with wheels that moves down a street. Most have motors, but this may be optional.

Second, it must be art. As is said, art is in the eye of the beholder. In the case of the art car, it is in the eye of the molder or owner of the car. Many cars are too old for ready car duty, but too dear for their owners to let them depart. So, they are transformed into something of memory, figment, fantasy, the nostalgic, even the apprehensive, and in it all there is at work the wildly vivid imagination of the cartist transforming his or her old mobile into something beyond time, age, space and street.

You must decide for yourself.

We did this last Saturday as we wandered Allen Parkway in Houston, Texas, wide-eyed and wondering at the lined art cars waiting to begin their march to memory in the 26th Annual Houston Art Car Parade.

Let me start with what I consider the classic art car. Here are three examples of “Glue at Work.” You’ve got a car, stick something on it. That’s art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another of my classic art car looks is the “Glue and Glitter.” Here is one that has been around for years. As with most art cars – at first glance – you’re never sure what it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not all art cars are molded. Some are painted. Please observe the following, which I call, in order, hopefully: “Teeth for Two,” “I Can Paint,” “Hip, Hip, Hooray for Hippies Too” (this is two shots of the hood and door), and “Where Did I Put That Planet?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Terry the Pterodactyl” reminded us of our visit to the Natural History Museum:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, there’s always an Edsel. This was actually redesigned as an art car earth mover, of sorts; but don’t be hood-winked, it’s still an Edsel. You can disguise it, but you can’t hide it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simply stated, strawberries are best:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birds of a Feather, Flock Together – here under the watchful eye of the Bird Master:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, what’s a home or car without a Nome or two?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around this one, the crowd was deep and the laughs loud. The bass and claw-fish were well articulated and moved to the orchestrated notes of classical and other more raucous tunes from the dock of the bay to down on the bayou. What will they think of next?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There you have it, a sampling at best. I bet you get the picture and wish you could have been there. Sometimes a picture is worth a 1,000 words. For these cars, sometimes more.

Take a stroll down the street and if you’re quick and look up quickly you may just spy

A bird bath on wheels, a musical mongoose or grandma’s pies glued on high.

It’s not every day or at every corner that you can wave and see

An artsy car rolling down the street dressed as a bee

Or glittering in rhinestones like Liberace,

But there it may just be

For you to see.

Wow, gee.

Grandpa Jim