Shoppers watched open-mouthed as the first Art Car Parade took place in Manchester.
The arty motorists began arriving at Cathedral Gardens where they parked their unusual artistic vehicles so the public could take a closer look.
Then the procession began winding its way through the city centre to Albert Square.
Among the cars was PicCARso, a Citroen 2CV with irregular shaped brightly coloured doors, in homage to the artist; a truck covered in mosaic tiles complete with the death mask of a death-row prisoner; a Ford `OrKa' painted black and white with fins and a car made completely from wood.
A number of other vehicles, including `Tone Float,' a milk float with a contraption on board which played a series of bottles, also took place.
The parade was organised by Walk the Plank - an arts organisation specialising in outdoor performances.
It was the idea of Liz Pugh and John Wassell who saw car parades in America and thought it would be great to bring the concept over to this country.
It is hoped the successful Manchester event will become an annual event not just here, but in other cities across Britain and Europe.
Next month the Car Parade will go to Blackpool when the cars will not only be decorated, but illuminated too.
For more information log on to www.artcarparade.co.uk Tweet
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It was fun to see but the parade caused traffic snarl up's on the roads around and this on a weekend when the mancunian way was closed. Also the pollution created for yet another parade in the city centre within the last two weeks was unacceptable.
When will the council ban such polluting and congesting parades from the city's roads?
Well hopefully better transport links thanks to the Congestion Charge will get rid of the cars altogether!
But still, people won't be happy (the tiresome 'toll tax' trumpeters for a start!)
MCC cause a traffic problem by having these parades then complain that traffic is getting worse? OF COURSE IT WILL GET WORSE IF YOU SLOW THE TRAFFIC UP WITH PARADES EVERY WEEK. What happened to have a show at gmex and other places that are geared up for traffic.rather than block the city up with traffic..........
Oh dear have you people got nothing better to complain about! We should be pleased that MCC and companies like Walk the Plank put on such wonderful events as these. Would you rather see nothing happening in the city...and live somewhere boring with no outside entertainment! This event has made the arts accessible to everyone. I guess you guys were the ones stuck in the traffic queues rather than one of the thousands of people who came along to the Parade who thought it was fascinating. Did you actually see what the Parade was all about!? It was one of the most exciting and innovative events I've seen in a long time! AND, it wasn't causing more pollution...if you look at the art car parade website you'll see that there was actually a very important message behind the parade trying to promote using cars less and many of the vehicles were pedal powered OR used alternatives to fossil fuels. I'm sure your cars weren't using these alternatives while you were stuck in the traffic jam that lasted what...half an hour tops! The vehicles also stopped at the traffic lights to let the traffic through so what's the problem...try to enjoy these things and take part...maybe you should enter your car in the parade next year if you have a problem. WELL DONE MCC AND WALK THE PLANK!!!!!
Wonderful!
I am a "cartist" (best term for artcar artist-much more efficient) in the United States. Events like this are common here and all of them are very well attended. The largest is sponsored by the Orange Show Center for Viusionary Art in Huston Texas- about 400 cars! find them at http://www.orangeshow.org
I have been doing artcars for about 20 years now. One of my cars Handy won first prise at the houston show. (best daily driver category) I encourage all cartists to design cars that are street legal- it is esy find the law and work within it! The concept is to bring art to the roads not just to parades- they are good to. I have 6 artcars and would not drive a plain one. Visit my cars here if you would like-
http://www.geocities.com/artcars/hutmanartcars.html
Decade or so ago I established world artcasr day. This was timed to take place the same day as my traditional open house.-November 5 or closest saturday. I combined this with my celebration of guy fawkes day! I run the only Bonfire society in North America- google the Center for Fawkesian Pursuits. Each year we put all the cars on display along with others, illuminate them and make them part of traditional bonfire celebrations. All are welcome....you may reach me at cbladey@bcpl.net
I encourage you all to get your cars on the road as daily drivers and join us in celebrating world artcar day each november by getting the cars out in public view. Drive art and Live. Never Drive a Plain Car.
Conrad Bladey
Peasant
Cartist
Baltmore Maryland uSa
Very glad to see art cars in the UK! I'm the keeper of the Art Car Events Calendar, and it's a rare treat to add an entry for an event outside North America. I wish there were more!
www.artcarcalendar.com
Art car enthusiasts everywhere are welcome to join us on the 'artcarz' mailing list:
groups.yahoo.com/group/artcarz/
Tim Klein
Dallas, Texas, USA
www.artcar.com
Given current Council policies, I'm surprised they permitted any event that promotes the concept and enjoyment of a car.
Well done walk the plank for putting on a truely inspirational and all inclusive/assessiable art show. It was so great to see a real mixture of people there to support the parade. I don't see how anyone can complain about pollution as most of the cars were using alternative forms of fuel or were pedal power.
And if you are the ones complaining about the traffic, then you should try getting out of your cars at the weekend and doing something more interesting like going to the first ever art car parade.