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Art Car Weekend 2010

Presented by Orange Show Center for Visionary Art at Various locations around Houston

May 6-May 9, 2010

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Emmy-award winning actor and famed “Blues Brother” Dan Aykroyd will lead the way as the grand marshal of the 23rd Annual Houston Art Car Parade on Saturday, May 8 at 1 p.m. Downtown Houston will come to life when more than 250 “motorrific” mobile masterpieces hit the pavement.

As a free BYOG (bring your own goodies – lawn chairs, water, treats, no dogs please.) event, the Parade has become a nationwide phenomenon and continues to bring out the artist in everyone. This year’s spectacle is expected to draw a crowd of 250,000 fans from across the map and approximately 250 local, national and international artists will transform everyday automobiles into one-of-a-kind creations meant to amuse, inspire, enlighten and entertain.

The award-winning Parade is produced by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, an organization that preserves and promotes visionary art environments and provides opportunities to discover and celebrate the artist in everyone. At the biggest and best Art Car Parade on earth, the Orange Show dares ogling onlookers to discover their inner artists and to seek inspiration from stunners ranging from an exact replica F-18 fighter jet car to one inspired by the Beatles classic “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”

The two-mile long party stretches along Allen Parkway from Taft to Downtown.

Don’t miss any of the festivities, be sure to check out:

• At the Art Car Fun Zone at Sam Houston Park, presented by CLEAR, Parade-goers will find activities aplenty: sand castle creations, arts and crafts, Art Car painting, food, drinks, $25 reserved bleacher seating and good times at the Houston Public Library summer reading program. Art Car Parade attendees will be one of the first to have a chance to check out CLEAR, a super fast, 4G mobile Internet service new to Houston.

• Also at Sam Houston Park, the International House of Blues Foundation® (IHOBF) will present its Blues SchoolHouse Program, a live musical presentation that traces the history of the blues from its roots in African musical traditions through its emergence as an American musical form and its influence on other forms of music including jazz, R&B, rock and roll, soul, funk and rap. Visit www.ihofb.org  for more information.

• VIPit Party at the Houston Heritage Society (ticketed event) starts at 11 a.m. Parade Grand Marshal Dan Aykroyd will hang out in the VIPit from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The absolute best views of the Art Car Parade, plus shaded bleacher seating, live Parade commentary, open bar and tasty treats from some of Houston’s best restaurants including Beaver’s, California Pizza Kitchen, El Patio, Freebirds, Natachee’s Restaurant & Bar, Paula’s Texas Spirits, Raising Canes, Ruggles Green, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Silver Eagle, The Chocolate Bar, IKEA and Crystal Head Vodka. Edgar “The Big E” Salazar will be performing. Tickets are $125 ($15 for children 12 and under) and can be purchased by calling 713-926-6368 or online at www.orangeshow.org.

But wait, there’s more! The parade is only one of four events taking place during the 2010 Houston Art Car Weekend, including:

Art Car Ball “The Legend Returns” – Thursday, May 6 at 7-11 p.m.
Orange Show Monument & Warehouse, 2402 Munger Street
TICKETS: $25 in advance; $30 at the door
It’s baaaaack! For the first time in eight years, artists and fans will come together to celebrate and set the party mood for the weekend’s events. On Thursday, May 6 the public can enjoy live music, yummy food, spirits, performance art and fire-breathing cars as the night’s celebrated stars – the Art Car artists – become the center of attention. On the indoor stage, headliners include Southern Backtones and Flamin’ Hellcats. On the outdoor stage you can catch Pearl and Herschel Berry and the Natives. Be sure you come in style for the costume contest, illuminated costumes are encouraged! EMCee by The ART GUYS. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. For tickets www.orangeshow.org

Main Street Drag – Friday, May 7 at 8:30 a.m.
Hermann Park parking lot
On Friday, May 7, more than 80 Art Cars will caravan to visit local children’s hospitals, schools and senior centers to inspire and entertain fans who might not otherwise be able to experience the Parade. It’s a once in a lifetime chance for some to see the Art Cars up close and personal.

Sneak Peek at Discovery Green, presented by Opportunity Houston
Friday, May 7 at 6 – 9 p.m.
1500 McKinney Street
FREE
Parade-goers can get a preview of the newest Art Cars, along with some old favorites, at “Sneak Peek” which takes place Friday, May 7, from 6 – 9 p.m. at Discovery Green. Sponsored by Opportunity Houston and Discovery Green, Sneak Peek will feature live music and entertainment throughout the park by Grimy Styles and Foot Patrol. As the sun goes down, the park will be filled with illuminated Art Cars outfitted with special night lighting. Check out the arts and crafts activities for the kids!

Art Car Awards Ceremony & Brunch
Continental Club, 3700 Main Street
FREE
The last blast of the weekend takes place at the Continental Club on Sunday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Art Car Awards Ceremony and Brunch will feature live music and entertainment, food and drink, and artists selling their creations. This year’s winners will be announced at the awards ceremony with more than $10,000 in cash and prizes going to the best Art Car creations in 14 categories. This free event is open to the public. For more information, visit www.orangeshow.org or call 713-926-6368.

Parade in the palm of your hand: The Art Car Mobile Guide adds an entirely new dimension to the Art Car experience. Anyone with a smart phone can follow along with the Parade by viewing pictures of each Art Car and information about them in the order they appear along the parade route. The Art Car Mobile Guide is also a great companion at pre-parade viewing events like Sneak Peek and the line-up along Allen Parkway, and you can even cast your vote for your favorite car directly from the Art Car application. Simply go to www.culturemap.com/artcar  to download the mobile guide.

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is a non-profit organization, founded in 1980 to preserve works of extraordinary imagination and celebrate the artist in everyone. The Center maintains the Orange Show monument, the Beer Can House, an archive and library and a diverse schedule of cultural and educational programs for children and adults. Workshops and participatory activities provide the opportunity, means, and inspiration to experience the creative process.

Funding is provided in part by grants from The Brown Foundation, Houston Endowment, The Wortham Foundation, The Cullen Foundation, Joan Hohlt & J. Roger Wich Foundation, the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, The Elkins Foundation, Ann and James Harithas, and the Oshman Foundation. Sponsors include Houston Chronicle, Budweiser, Continental Airlines, Opportunity Houston, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, KPFT-FM, Vollmer Public Relations, Discovery Green, South Padre Island Visitors Bureau and individual contributions, in-kind support, and volunteers. Today, the Orange Show’s activities serve 300,000 people annually.

The Orange Show thanks its sponsors: City of Houston, Opportunity Houston, Budweiser, Houston Arts Alliance, Continental Airlines, Discovery Green, South Padre Island, Vollmer Public Relations, Crystal Head Vodka, Molina’s Cantina, Hermann Park Conservancy, IBC Bank, International House of Blues Foundation, Academy Sports + Outdoors.

The Orange Show thanks its media partners Texas Monthly, CLEAR, Houston Chronicle, KPRC Local 2, KPFT-FM, Schipul Web Marketing and CultureMap.