Join the Parade
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| 'Black Cab' by Pete Mountain for the Manchester Art Car Parade organised by Walk the Plank. |
Have you ever been in a parade or carnival......for that matter have you ever driven around in an art car? An art car is a vehicle that has its appearance transfomed as an act of personal and creative self-expression. In the US where Art Car Parades are very popular and in fact hundreds of thousands attend them, there is a tradition that "Cartists" - Art car artists and owners often dress in a matching motif when they process and display their cars. I personally love the idea of dressing up’ if one is ‘dressing’ one’s car but don't think the 'twin set' matching theme is essential.
One of the major philosophies shared by creators of artcars is the general belief that there are no standards - that it is a person’s or group of persons’ unique self expression that is the most valuable attribute. Consequently there is no such thing as a ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ artcar, each is appreciated for its individuality and perhaps that’s because in the US, Art Car artists come from all walks of life and have a wide range of beliefs and opinions.
So if you feel inspired to create and express yourself through your car, this could be an opportunity of a lifetime and certainly is the only chance of participating in the SECOND EVER LONDON ART CAR PARADE.
So if you fancy being outrageous........if you have fancy having some real creative fun and adventure - working in small teams to express and reveal something of yourself to an unsuspecting crowd of Londoners ......., join me on in June 2011 for the alternative parade of a lifetime.
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The Flower Power Guru Merc with Pink Princess, Katrina in Hampstead, London before take-off. |
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'The Tiki Love Truck' in all its splendour by the creative team at The Treatment Rooms in Manchester. Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/binaryape |
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| 'In Loving Memory' - the artcar that me and my husband painted to commemorate my mother's sudden passing two months prior to the parade in June 2009 | |
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| Part of the departing celebrations in Hampstead. | |
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| A drumming departure |
If you have your own car, absolutely fantastic............and if you don't, don't let that stop you from contributing your creative genius ..... Perhaps you can inspire a mate, colleague, beloved uncle or aunt or teenage son or transform your own alternative current mode of transporation - a scooter, push bike or motorbike. This is a parade of temporarily transformed cars as well as permanently transformed vehicles like my own. And this is your opportunity to make a statement. This is your opportunity to challenge this most powerful of 'status symbols' around the world. This is your chance to create moving art and bring audacious spirit and colour to London's streets.
So come, join us on the 14th of June to parade around hampstead, belsize park, primorose hill and onto colourful camden town, home of Europe's livliest and biggest market. We will then continue through kentish town, tufnell park, archway and highgage back to hampstead. Spontaneous live performances of dance, hooping and drumming are possible throughout our journey.
Whether you already own and drive an 'art car' or other roadworthy vehicle or this is the very first time you've even heard of the concept of an 'art car', come and catalyse your creativity. Whatever your level of experience be prepared for high octane adventure and excitement. Book a place on one of my FREE art car workshops through april, may and june and come and discover more.
I will also make myself available in the summer evenings of June leading up to the event for individual 'creative catalyst car sessions.' After all as the first ever art car parade in London we want it to be stunning don't we ! * ! Besides, if all goes to plan, in the future I can raise appropriate sponsorship and actually pay you for your artistic endeavours next time.........
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| 'The Church of Stop Shopping' created by Stephane Spitz complete with sound system at the Manchester Parade. | 'Glorious Goddess pictured at the parade in Manchester. |
Theme of the Parade
The Art Car Parade is simply called The London Art Car Parade to give it a sense of place and honour the range and diversity of people's that are drawn to live in this incredible city. The THEME of the art car parade is therefore deliberately open to encourage people's free creative expression. It started off as the final project of an MA in Fine Art and Media at Westminster University where I had been focusing my studies on Shamanism, the Chakras and the Mandala or sacred circle. I have worked with the Chakras for eight years teaching them in my yoga practise and creating a dance form, Chakra Dance that stimulates and aligns these energy centres of the body to realise radiant health and balance in life. They are the colours of the rainbow - a symbol of radiant hope and magic. Therefore I include some information about them with a question to consider, should you need any seeds or catalysts for inspiration..........
WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR ART CAR TO SAY ABOUT YOU/ LIFE?
Perhaps you have a vision of covering your car with feathers.........maybe you have the concept of the'mad hatter' and want to adorn your car with funky hats. It could be that you just want to wrap your car in paper and give it a spontaneous 'paint job' or perhaps you're inspired to bring the 'fruits' of summer to the streets with strings of cut and decorated fruit. You may alternatively have something you really want to say about 'climate change' or the 'economy' and want to festoon your car with colourful slogans.....I recommend taking a look at the fabulous art car sites on the links page for inspiration and reading through the techniques page for some additional thoughts on decor.
I have included some information below about the Chakras which if you don't know is an ancient system for mapping 'consciousness' in life and originates from India. I've put this as a reference partly because I'm a colour diva and the chakras are all about colour and also because having worked with them for the past 8 years they are a simple 'holistic' system that seems to encapsulate the whole range of human concerns and motivations in life.
1~ the ROOT CHAKRA, Colour : Red
The root chakra, Muladhara chakra is located at the perineum between the anus and the sex and literally means ‘root support’. Its function is one of grounding, or rooting and its related to the very physical of all elements, earth. The colour associated with muladhara chakra is red and this chakra is concerned with ‘survival’ and meeting the basic physical needs for safety, nourishment and stability. It represents our relationship to our basic material existence and consequently relates to those forms of support that nourish our material lives, from family and friends to money. Furthermore some would say that security is not something static and solid but rather the energy that is available to us in order to adapt to the ever-changing vista of life. Which is why physical health and wellbeing is so vital a foundation in our lives.
QUESTION: Is there anything you want to express about the earth and its resources and how they nourish your life through the 'vehicle' of your car?
2~ the SEX /SACRAL CHAKRA, Colour : Orange
Where the 1st chakra seeks to hold on and create structure and form, the second chakras’s purpose is to let go and let flow, energetically connecting one thing with another. The second chakra, Swadhisthana means sweetness and its elemental is water, governing the body’s liquid functionality. The motion of energy through the body is felt as e-motion and it is this centre which is the seat of our emotions, in particular, pleasure and pain. Invariably life is the pursuit of pleasure and a moving away from pain. Pleasuring the senses, procreation and the adventure of sexual expression and connection is therefore a part of this centre. Since the sexual revolution of the 60’s and the concurrent accessibility of contraception, sex has taken central stage. Seemingly everybody is doing it and in every position. In reality of course, there remains tremendous confusion, disappointment and shame. However there is a renewed interest in practises such as Tantra yoga which teaches that the body is sacred and that the arousal of the senses through various psycho-physical practices can bring ecstasy, joy and even enlightenment.
QUESTION: What if anything do you have to say about the dance of pleasure and pain in your life and what might that look like on an art car?
3~ the POWER CHAKRA, Colour : Yellow
Whereas the 1st chakra seeks to create structure, stability and form, the second chakra’s purpose, to experience movement, difference and flow, the 3rd chakra’s focus is transformation, dynamic energy and power. Manipura chakra means ‘lustrous gem’ and is represented by the element of fire - it is your internal fire bringing warmth and enthusiasm to all your actions, your internal sun - it is your get up and go - your power, your self confidence and ability to act, to shape your life at your will. It is this centre which needs to be activated in support of you defining and achieving what it is you truly want in life. It is visualised as a brilliant sunlight yellow and the fire of this centre can purify, burn or cut away any elements that no longer serve you or others in life.
QUESTION: looking at the concept of power and empowerment of yourself and others in life, is there something you are really committed to sharing using words and symbols on your car?
4~ the HEART CHAKRA, Colour : Green
Anahata, the heart chakra means "unstruck", "fresh' and 'clean". When the chakra is free from the constriction and pain from past hurts its opening is innocent, fresh and radiant. Love is central to the heart chakra, the unifying force that draws things together and keeps them in relationship. Love, approval and forgiveness are the fundamental ingredients of your journey of personal growth because they promote self-acceptance, so vital in loving ourselves and our lives. Other qualities associated with anahata chakra are beauty, joy, balance, flow, forgiveness and peace. The colours associated with the heart chakra are green, like the verdant green of nature, and pink. (red of the root chakra with white of the crown chakra producing pink) Air is the element that most resonates with the quality of love and it invites us to lighten and rise up and see life from a fresh perspective. QUESTION: What do you love about life and how could you show that on an art car?
5~ the THROAT CHAKRA, Colour : Turqoise Blue
Visuddha, the chakra at the throat means 'purification' and it governs the function of creativity and communication. Communication is the process of transmitting and receiving information through symbols/language and clearly is an act of connection moving from the personal out into the world. Creative expression is a process of exploration, play and adventure, a delving into the unknown to reveal something about the mysteries of the universe and life itself. It is here that we learn to 'find our voice' and 'speak our truth in the world' and consequently this is the centre associated with the creation of 'sound'. We choose to express and share our ideas, our values and feelings about life within our 'communities' using an abundance of languages, from music making to gardening, from cooking to interior design, from dressing up to the types of businesses we support.
QUESTION: What do you want to share with others about your experience of adventure and play in life and how could you communicate the spirit of play on your car?
6~ the BROW CHAKRA, Colour : Purple
Ajna Chakra is located in the centre of your forehead and means "to perceive" and "to command" illustrating its two fold nature, the passive and the active. We take in and absorb images and we create our reality by using the power of our imagination - by seeing what has not been seen before. It therefore relates to the quality of 'seeing', visualisation, colour and light and connects to the more mental aspect of the body. Through accessing the brow chakra one is able to observe the patterns of thinking and review the beliefs that are shaping one's life. It is here that we examine what's really important and of value in life and how we can imagine our contribution to life as it unfolds. This is the absolute centre of vision, and where we can really begin to magically create something new with the power of your imaginations.
QUESTION : What art have you found absolutely inspiring and what was it's message and how might you express that essence on your car?
7- the CROWN CHAKRA, Colour : White
Sahasrara Chakra is located at the crown of the head and means ‘thousandfold’. It is traditionally visualised in the Indian system of the chakras, as a thousand petalled lotus blooming from the top of your head. This energy centre connects us to divine intelligence and the absolute mystery of life. It represents 'the source' of all manifestation here on earth. It is the centre where we experience union with all of life, everything and nothing.......and is experienced as a piercing through of the 'apparent illusion' of our varied and separate life forms to the radiant essence of what we all are. This is therefore the energetic centre of grace and gratitude as we feel that something far greater than our egotistical fearful selves,is at work in our lives. We recognise what a blessing and miracle it is to be alive.
QUESTION : If you were to share one miracle or blessing in your life on your art car what would that be?
