"Giving back to the artists who have put their time and resources into producing these masterpieces is an important part of the Houston Art Car Parade," said Orange Show Center for Visionary Art executive director Lynette Wallace, "Without the creativity and dedication of these exceptional individuals the Houston Art Car Parade would not exist."
Taking this year's top prize, "The Mayor's Cup," which included a hand-made trophy from artist Randy Blair and $2000, was Kirk Strawn's oversized, 2:1 scale replica of the VW Baja Bug, Big Red. Crafted out of a 1959 Walter Class 1500 Crash Truck, Big Red is the second in a series of early VW replicas created by Strawn and his collaborative group The Walter Project. Accepting the award in front of a large crowd at the Orange Show Monument, Carol Chamberlain, from Scotsdale, Arizona, thanked the Houston art car artists for welcoming them into their close-knit community, and announced that Strawn will be donating $500 of his award back to the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art.
Four first place winners were chosen as "Best Art Car" to receive $1,500 and a handmade trophy courtesy of artist Bob Wink. Welsh artist Andy Hazell, who spent the past 2 weeks in Houston creating his Superman-inspired entry "Heroicar" took the prize, as did Brooklyn-based printmaker Dennis McNett whose elaborate patterns and drawings covering an old ambulance was a huge crowd-pleaser. Also winning the first place award for Best Art Car was Joe Haden's "Tired and Feathered," which he considers his version of a cross between a 1930's Duesenberg and a chicken, as well as Cherie Smith and Sharon Neyland's soda-can covered "POPART" car.
Below is the complete list of awards and award winners.
Mayor's Cup - $2000
Big Red by Kirk Strawn & Friends
Best Art Cars
First Place - $1500
- Heroicar by Andy Hazell
- Tired & Feathered by Joe Haden
- POPART by Cherie Smith & Sharon Neyland
- Wolfbat by Dennis McNett & friends
Second Place
- Lace Car Room Room by Joe Haden
- Shattered Vanity by Nicole Strine
- Big Banana Car by Steve Braithwaite
- Gartenzwedgland aka the Gnome Car by Magda Boltz-Wilson
Third Place
- Karmageddon by Deb & Bill Elliott
- Peeps in the Deep by John Gregory
- The Recycle Cycle by Richard Renner
- Pastry Resistance aka "My Crumbly Artcar" by David Wilson
Best Lowriders
First Place - $1000
- Baby Boy by Jesse Leal
- Brown Pride by Miguel Requena
Second Place
- 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood by Jesus Jimenez
Best Daily Driver Art Car
First Place - $1000
- Big Banana Car by Steve Braithwaite
Second Place
- Simply Charming Dragonfly Car by Stephanie Walton and the students of Northbrook Middle School
Third Place
- A Little Bit of Nonsense by Randy Blair
Best Youth Group
First Place - $500
- Things That Go Bump In The Night by Paloma Garner and the students of Jefferson Davis High School
Second Place
- Simply Charming Dragonfly Car by Stephanie Walton and the students of Northbrook Middle School
Third Place
- Kaleidoscope Dreams by Mary Reed and the students of Memorial High School
Best Contraption
First Place - $500
- River Run by George Sacaris
- Backyard Staycation by Marlene Iacoviello and Jana Jordan
Second Place
- Fire & Ice by Ben Gibson and Nicole Strine
Best Cycle
First Place - $500
- You Wanna Go! by Drew Bettge and the students of Manvel High School
Second Place
- The Soul Keeper by Kimberly Bainter
Third Place
- Bika-a-saurus by Koralina Pyor
Best Music
First Place - $500
- Minor Mishap Marching Band
Second Place
- The Last Taco Tango by Last Concert Café
Third Place
- The Night Train Band
Best Performance
First Place - $500
- The Z-Bra Mobile's 13th Birthday and Bar Mitzvah by Amy Lynch Kolflat and The Z-Bra Krewe
Second Place
- The Cowboy Dave Show by David Gregory
Third Place
- Lucha Mobile by Todd Bowers
Best Free Speech
First Place - $500
- Dove for Love not War by Patrick Renner and the students of Sharpstown International High School
Second Place
- The Peace Portraits by Claire Loe, owned by Lindsey Molnari
Third Place
- Fusion of Contradiction by Brandi Renee Hammond
Best Painted Car
First Place - $500
- Map of Space & Time by Rebecca Lowe
Second Place
- Strings by Charles Washington
Third Place
- Texas Natives by Chris Green
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