CSAS to host Bonnie Blue for The Scenic City Art Car Weekend!

Posted on March 26, 2012 by art120org
Women that rock van

Bonnie will unveil her art car's new look to the public during The Scenic City Art Car Tailgate Party at 9am, April 14th across from the Chattanooga Choo-Choo on West 14th. This event is free and open to the public. Come on down and enjoy the fun! The art cars roll down Main Street at noon.

On April 13th The Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences (CSAS) will host a very special guest to share with students how important it is to believe in yourself. Nine years ago, Bonnie Blue had an idea to paint portraits on rocks. Rather than doubting her idea, Ms. Blue embraced it as a gift. With the help of her family, Bonnie created an art car based on her stone paintings called, “Women that Rock”. Since that day, her “idea” has taken Bonnie across the country, been featured on TV, and has introduced her to famous people. Ms. Blue loves to talk to kids about her car, her art, and that it is okay to be different.

“Our emphasis of providing a well rounded educational experience through the integration of the arts in our curriculum has been a focus we continue to build at CSAS Elementary. We are excited about being afforded this unique opportunity to partner with ART 120 and look forward to the positive impact this experience will have for our students.” — William Fain, CSAS Principal K-5

Bonnie Blue’s visit is part of the art car caravan organized by Art 120, a local non-profit created to enrich Chattanooga and its surrounding community through the creation, education, and celebration of art. On April 13th from 9am-noon, artists will drive their mobile masterpieces to participating area schools for an in-school field trip. Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences is the official guest host for Bonnie Blue and her “Women That Rock” art car. On April 14th, Bonnie and several other enjoyable works of art, some complete with lights, sound, and found objects will line up on West 14th Street across from the Chattanooga Choo-Choo beginning at 9am and end with a parade down Main Street at noon. The public will have a chance to see the work up close as well as visit with the artists and students who created this art on wheels. To learn how your school can become a guest host, contact Kate Warren directly by phone at 423/314-6659 or via email: info@art120.org

Posted in Art, Art and Events, art car, art car weekend, Art in Atlanta, Art in Birmingham, Art in Chattanooga, Art in Knoxville, Art in Nashville, artist, car, education, Engineering, fabrication, Houston, international, media, Middle School, paint, photograph, school, science, social media, street art, vocational | Leave a comment

Rock City Celebrates 80 Years with Art Cars & Awards

Posted on March 9, 2012 by art120org

Art 120 is excited to have Rock City Gardens as an official sponsor of the Scenic City Art Car Weekend. This event will be part of a year long celebration of Rock City’s 80 years of enchanting visitors and inspiring artists with its majestic views and unique wonders.

Recipients of the Rock City People's Choice Award will receive a $250 Cash Prize and a gnome workshop with artist Matthew Dutton.

One Cool Step for Art, One Great Step for Arts Education

Rock City strives to serve as a leading cultural entertainment innovator. By partnering with local artisans, along with the growing festival and event calendar at the attraction, Rock City provides high level quality and variety to the hundreds of thousands of guests annually.

Rock City will continue that commitment by hosting an award for the school that submits the best art car in The Scenic City Art Car Parade. On April 14th, the art cars will begin line on West 14th Street across from the Chattanooga Choo-Choo beginning at 9am. The public is invited to come out, view the art cars, meet the artists, and select their favorite student entry. One school will be chosen to receive the Rock City Golden Gnome award for best art car which includes a $250 cash prize and a special workshop conducted by artist, Matthew Dutton to occur before the end of the school year.

Dutton is constantly looking for ways to enhance the visitor’s experience. As part of the Special Events team at Rock City, he builds themed elements that tie the nature and art elements throughout the attraction in an aesthetically pleasing way. He also has created a new attraction called Gnome Valley at Rock City that showcases his skills at molding and casting for a new set of Gnome characters. He also is the artist on-site who restores and rebuilds the historic original German gnome statues and fairy tale characters throughout Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village.

Students Take Art to the Streets
An art car is a type of kinetic sculpture that has been modified for artistic expression. It can be a bicycle, car, boat, go-kart, or any motorized contraption you can dream of. Performing arts are welcome too! Students have to figure out how to take their ideas and convert them into an actual work of art. Here are a few examples of school entries from Houston’s Art Car Parade.

Student entries cover a wide range of ideas from simple to complex and use a variety of materials.

“We are excited to see what students come up with for our inaugural year,” says Kate Warren, Executive Director of Art 120. Teachers from Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia can still register their school to be a part of this exciting event. Click here to participate.

 

Posted in Art, Art and Events, art car, art car weekend, Art in Atlanta, Art in Birmingham, Art in Chattanooga, Art in Knoxville, Art in Nashville, artist, bike, business, car, Engineering, fabrication, high school, Houston, integration, international, local, machine, media, Middle School, music, Orange Show, paint, photograph, Radio, school, science, social media, visionary, vocational, welding | Leave a comment

LaFayette Schools Sweep the Art Car Awards!

Posted on April 15, 2012 by art120org

The Scenic City’s Inaugural Art Car Parade was a huge success! The student bikes and Truck-Ceratops were amazing! Both LaFayette upper schools entered some amazing creations and took all three student awards this year with the coveted Golden Gnome Award going to LaFayette Middle School for their pedaled creation, Horsepower. Congratulations!

Posted in Art, Art and Events, art car, art car weekend, Art in Atlanta, Art in Chattanooga, artist, bike, car, Chicken, education, Engineering, fabrication, high school, media, Middle School, paint, photograph, school, science, social media, street art, visionary, vocational, welding | Leave a comment

Chattanooga Start Your Art Cars!

Posted on February 17, 2012 by art120org

Art cars entertain in all shapes and sizes. Peacock photo by Paul McRae

After a year of planning and art car summer programs, the time has come to share this amazing art form with the city. The call is out across the country for people to participate in this region’s very first art car event.

Coordinated to occur the same weekend as the 4Bridges Arts Festival, the Scenic City Art Car Weekend will be part of the opening events during the HATCH 10 day celebration of art. The festivities begin April 14th with a lineup and tailgate party over by The Chattanooga Choo-Choo at 9am and will complete with a parade down Main Street
around 11:45 am. This event is free and open to the public.

What is an art car?
An art car is a vehicle (car, bike, or wheeled contraption) that has had its appearance
modified as an act of personal artistic expression. Some of these works of art on wheels incorporate robotics, alternative fuel sources, painting, performance, and recycled materials.

Art cars and Awareness
This medium literally gets art and programs out from behind closed doors and into the streets. Art cars reach people of all ages and socio-economic levels. This is especially true for people who have never stepped foot into an art gallery, a theatre center, or museum before. You do not have to be an artist to create an art car either, all you need is desire, a vehicle, and a plan. Many non-profit organizations have created art cars as therapy programs, as educational tools, for fundraising events, and to showcase their public programs. To learn more about this exciting event for Chattanooga, click here.

Posted in Art, Art and Events, art car, art car weekend, Art in Atlanta, Art in Birmingham, Art in Chattanooga, Art in Knoxville, Art in Nashville, artist, bike, business, car, Chicken, domestic, education, electric, Engineering, fabrication, high school, Houston, integration, international, local, machine, media, Middle School, music, Orange Show, paint, photograph, school, science, social media, solar, street art, theater, video, visionary, vocational, welding | Leave a comment

Stay Tuned Chattanooga, Art Cars Are Coming!

Posted on February 9, 2012 by art120org

SAVE the Date! On April 14th 2012, Chattanooga’s Southside will come alive with this region’s first art car parade. Art 120 is organizing this high profile event as part of the HATCH Arts Festival which celebrates art, innovation, and provides a public venue for students to present their completed art cars alongside professional artists. We have been busy making preparations and will be releasing the full details and registration forms soon.

International High School's entry made from recycled materials was a Houston favorite last year.

What is an art car?
An art car is a vehicle (car, bike, or wheeled contraption) that has had its
appearance modified as an act of personal artistic expression. Some of these works of art on wheels incorporate robotics, alternative fuel sources, painting, performance, and recycled materials.

Twenty-five years ago, the Houston parade began with just a few art cars and small crowd. Today, this event has grown into a celebration of art with over 250 art cars from across the country participating and 300,000 spectators coming out to see them.

Art cars and Awareness
This medium literally brings art into the streets. As an uncommon form of art, art cars encourage participation from people of all ages and socio-economic levels. This is especially true for people who have never stepped foot into an art gallery, a theatre center, or museum before. You do not have to be an artist to create an art car either, all you need is desire, a vehicle, and a plan. Many non-profit organizations have created art cars as therapy programs, as educational tools, for fundraising events, and to showcase their public programs.

Reaching out
Providing free access to art at public events connect Chattanooga residents and tourists with our vibrant arts culture while giving students a chance to receive positive recognition for their achievements. Our 2011 students have already this positive reinforcement first-hand while riding in events such as River Rocks, Mainx24, and on display at venues such as the IMAX 3D Movie Theater and The Creative Discovery Museum. This April they will have the opportunity to ride alongside professional artists during Chattanooga’s first art car weekend. This annual celebration as part of the HATCH Arts Festival will be a showstopper to promote artists, downtown businesses, and local organizations.

Posted in Art, Art and Events, art car, art car weekend, Art in Atlanta, Art in Birmingham, Art in Chattanooga, Art in Knoxville, Art in Nashville, artist, bike, business, car, domestic, education, electric, Engineering, fabrication, local, machine, media, Middle School, Orange Show, photograph, science, social media, solar, street art, theater, visionary, vocational, welding | Leave a comment

Students Shine with Solar Power in the Holiday Starlight Parade

Posted on December 12, 2011 by art120org

Art bikes and artists line up beside the Volkswagen float.

Saturday was a fun-filled evening for downtown Chattanooga. Both art bikes and artists had a fabulous time preparing for the big event and the crowd loved their sculptures. Instead of conventional light sources, Art 120 relied mostly on solar power to keep art bikes lit throughout the night. “We were looking for an efficient, lightweight source and, thanks to a friend, quickly realized solar would be the best choice.”

 

An art bike rider waits for the lights to power up on the swing bike.

In fact, it was so successful that Art 120 will look at ways to incorporate this source of energy into their summer art bike workshops.

Last year due to zero sponsorship, this annual event was cancelled. According to WRCB, Volkswagen stepped in and made this event possible for our local families to enjoy. They also noted that this event was a much needed boost for downtown businesses as well. To view WRCB’s news story, see the link below. In case you missed the parade lovely evening, channel 3 will air the event in its entirety, December 17th at 1:00pm. Thank you Chattanooga Presents, Volkswagen and WRCB for providing such a wonderful community event.

Holiday Starlight Parade boosts downtown business – WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports.

 

Posted in Art, Art and Events, art car, Art in Chattanooga, artist, bike, business, car, education, Engineering, fabrication, high school, international, local, media, Middle School, social media, solar, vocational, welding | 7 Comments

Art Bikes on Parade for Mainx24

Posted on December 5, 2011 by art120org

Photoproof caught us Saturday in the Mainx24 Parade. What a great event. Here’s the footage.

Posted in Art, Art and Events, Art in Chattanooga, bike, business, education, Engineering, fabrication, high school, local, media, Middle School, photograph, school, science, street art, visionary, vocational, welding | 3 Comments

The River Otter is on the Loose

Posted on November 14, 2011 by art120org

Art car artist, Rebecca Bass,  left a lot of artcar momentum going after her seminar. Three weeks ago, artists, educators, and engineers assembled at Chattanooga State University to embark on a project never seen before, an art car created especially for the city of Chattanooga.

The Concept
Take an old, Toyota Chinook Camper and turn it into our scenic city on wheels. Our team worked together to create the design. Below are a few images show the original vehicle and our progress so far. As you can see, Lookout and Signal Mountain sit majestically on the roof with the Tennessee River spilling over either side of our sculpture. The passenger side represents the wonderful outdoor activities we enjoy and the driver’s side reveals our vibrant arts community. And gracefully hanging over the hood, we have a river otter to represent our wildlife.

Why?
Ever since the creation of the automobile, people have been modifying their cars, and receiving lots of smiles in return. Artwork like this is accessible to anyone, even those who have never stepped foot in an art gallery or museum before. Art cars combine both art and engineering, making them an excellent classroom project too. Furthermore, art cars are made from recycled parts. Many of these cars and their accessories are found objects destined more for the landfill than on the street. Artists all over the world tap into this form of of art and ultimately create something good for mankind.

What’s next?
This art car is currently under construction and will go on to participate in several public events such as Mainx24, Chattanooga’s first art car parade in April 2012, as well as represent Chattanooga in The 2012 Houston Art Car Parade.

Want to help?
Join us for some fun and inspiration. Share your thoughts and exchange ideas. Our next informal workshop will be Saturday, November 19th from 11am-5pm and it’s free. To register, please email katewarren@art120.org and she will add you to the list. School Classes and teachers are welcome too! Just call 423/314-6659 to see if we can arrange an all our art workday for your school.

Objects are Cool too.
Art 120 is also accepting old Chattanooga memorabilia, mardi gras beads, ornamental metal, etc. People interested in donating items for a tax deduction may contact Art 120 via email info@art120.org. Please list your contact info, type of donation, and we will coordinate with you.

Posted in Art and Events | 3 Comments

Art Cars with Rebecca Bass at Chattanooga State University

Posted on November 14, 2011 by art120org
Houston Grand Opera’s car brings their art to the people.
Rebecca’s students created this Yellow Submarine art car in 2010.

What do the Houston Grand Opera, Waltrip High School, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters all have in common? They all have art cars. And now, you can too. Art 120 is hosting a very special free program for anyone interested in this amazing art form.
Whether you are an artist, a teacher, non-profit organization, want to do something incredible for Mainx24, or just curious about what all the fuss is about, this program is for you. Rebecca is an I.B. certified art teacher who has built thirty art cars with her students to date. Rebecca’s students have had their art cars featured internationally on CNN, FOX, National Geographic, Car and Driver, FX channels Weird Wheels, New York Times, among many others. Their various art cars are part of permanent museum collections in Malaysia, Germany, Mexico, as well as six cities in the United States. During the seminar, participants can receive hands-on experience by working with Rebecca and Art 120 to create Chattanooga’s first art car. Rebecca will also cover project management, student experiences, and answer any questions about building an art car for yourself, with students, or as a team project. The presentation including a special preview of the film, “Art Car, The Movie” will begin at 10am Saturday, October 22 with access to the project from 11am-5pm Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm. email: info@art120.org to reserve your space.

What’s next?
The art car we create in this seminar will go on to participate in several public events such as Mainx24, Chattanooga’s first art car parade in April 2012, and will go on to represent Chattanooga in The 2012 Houston Art Car Parade. It will be hard to miss your work around town.

Want to help? Donate Now for Good Kharma and Tax Deductions.
Art 120 is also accepting old Chattanooga memorabilia, mardi gras beads, ornamental metal, etc. Money is also encouraged to keep these programs going. People interested in donating items for a tax deduction may contact Art 120 via email info@art120.org. Please list your contact info, type of donation, and we will coordinate with you.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Thank you for Helping Art 120 Rock the River

Posted on October 11, 2011 by art120org

We closed down River Rocks in fabulous form. Between the local artists and interactive art projects on Saturday to the grand finale Art Bike Brigade on the 9th. Kids and adults had a lot of fun. The truck, however, may never be the same.

Art Bikes Rock N’ Stuff
Our students ages 11-15 completed eight art bikes in just two weeks! Their work continues to be on display in the community. Stop by and see some of these amazing sculptures at The IMAX Theater until November 9th. A special thanks to our teachers, Natali and Smitty, our talented students, and three amazing team leaders: sculptor, Roger Halligan; bicycle race mechanic and wheelbuilder; Merlyn Townley, artist Rondell Crier, and Lafayette High School art teacher Liz Hornik.

Students take a moment from their bike ride to pose in Coolidge Park

Art Bikes Take Coolidge Park- The Video

A big thank you to the Chattanooga community too.
Businesses, non-profit organizations, and the community have stepped up and provided some amazing support for our program. Sculptor, Isaac Duncan iii, opened his studio up to accommodate our workshops. Zac Holford with The Main Street Bike Co-op has provided bike parts and assistance. CCA teacher, Chad Burnette, dropped off bikes and is assisting. Greg Ross, owner of Estate of Confusion, and artist, Peggy Petrey have provided some really cool embellishments. Outdoor Chattanooga hosted our student reception and bike ride in the park. Also, Townsend Atelier and The CampHouse have provided space for our day one activities. Thank you for all your help and hard work!

Want to help? Donate Now for Good Kharma and Tax Deductions.
Art 120 is also accepting old steel bikes, toddler bikes, tricycles, welding materials, golf clubs, and ornamental metal. Money is also encouraged to keep these programs for children going. People interested in donating items for a tax deduction may contact Art 120 via email info@art120.org. Please list your contact info, type of donation, and we will coordinate with you.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment