Nacho Libre Pen Lip Sync by the Pen Guy

I know its totally self serving by this is a great video I did a year ago and I thought it deserved a few more views. I spent all this time making the Mercedes Pens by collecting now over 10,000 pens and gluing them on my art car. One of my pen sources is a little thrift store called pick of the liter and I also do the first ever Nacho Libre Pen Lip Sync.

Cataillic Art Car - Hearse Covered in Cats

I got this email from Susan Venus owner of Venus Hair in Houston who owns a a hearse art car covered in painted cats buy artist Beans Barton. The Cataillic was formerly known as the Venus Hairse went a radical transformation in 2008 when it was painted over with really cute cats which won 2nd prize in the 2008 Art Car Parade in Houston. Susan has a great web site full of great links and if you are into cute animals, big hair and more art cars go check it out.

Broken Down Art Bulldozer

This is the first of its kind, an Art Bulldozer that was shot in Bahamas and was sent in by Wendy from the Orange Show. Nice going but I am not sure if this baby will be able to get any work done, but it sure looks good doing absolutely nothing at all. Nice way to hide a few of the rust spots:)

Most Evil Monstero Art Car - R.I.P.

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you all...Monstero! died today.

I was awoken at 5:20 this morning - first by Mica barking, then by our neighbor pounding on the door shouting "Monstero!'s on fire!!!". I ran to the back window to see huge flames at the back of the yard. Monstero! was fully engulfed - the garage was starting to catch. I shouted downstairs to James: "James! Monstero!'s on fire!! Get the hose - I'm calling 911!"

With James on the hose spraying down the garage and the fire department on the way, I was then able to react to what James was shouting: "Get my truck keys! Hurry!!". Our truck was parked in back right next to the blaze. I jumped in and gave it gas - it wouldn't go. Our brand new canoe was tied in the back and locked to the fence. For a split second, I considered trying to unlock it but the cab was starting to fill with smoke and looking at the inferno out the window next to me I knew there was not time for that. I floored it - ripping the canoe out of the back (luckily just by breaking the rope) and pulled the truck a safe distance away.

Our neighbors jumped on the hoses while James emptied one of the extinguishers on the side where the boat was locked so we could get it out of there.

The fire station is just 4 blocks from our house so they were there in a flash (Thanks Guys - and Gals!) James and the neighbors did a fantastic job spraying down the surrounding stuff and saving the garage. The firefighters finally got Monstero! put out. I was just waiting for them to say "What the heck IS this?" - they never did.

He's toast. I can't believe it. The inspector is coming later (he was finishing up at another fire) to determine the cause but while we were walking around the wreckage we saw the remnants of a bag of charcoal briquettes at the back - it looks like it was intentional. Bastards.

I attached a couple of pics. We were too busy taking care of everything else while it was burning to have any pictures of that but James was face to face with him - said it was a giant flaming skull alright...

Monstero! was many things - A Mutant Vehicle, a parade car, a party on wheels, a neighborhood icon - a memory of a lost loved one. He brought a lot of joy to a lot of people (I added a picture of that too). We will miss him. RIP buddy.



James and Willow Fulton look over the interior of their destroyed 1986 Mitsubishi Montero they named Monstero! It was set on fire Sunday morning in their alley.

Alien Bug Art Car

Scott and Rudy are a regular duo at Art Car Fest every year, this is his Alien Bug and here is what Scott had to Say:
"Ruby and I would like to join your artcar procession? I purchased this car in 1995 with an embarrassing ugly paint job. One of my client's, with his graffiti crew painted it. I was totally unaware of the Art Car Community. The car has been through several incarnations, the luxury of easily removable front hoods helps. I still have the original hood hanging in my garage. The present hood is Marvin the Martian in 3-D. I am presently working on a third hood with the image of the Silver Surfer on it."
Scott welcome to the procession.

Snail Ar Car - Called the Golden Mean

This beauty is brought to you by blacksmith Jon Sarriugarte, who fabricates custom home furnishings, and his wife, Kyrsten Mate, who literally dreamed up the concept. "I woke up and said, 'We have to build this giant snail,'" she said. "It totally wasn't planned. This whole project has been weird coincidences and math." They transformed a 1966 VW Bug into the rolling piece of art. The Golden Mean is making its debut at the Burning Man art festival this year. The Snail Ar Car glows in the dark and shoots rings of fire from its feelers. It also seats six people.

They are also the creators of the The Serpeant Twins and the adorable zippy Electrobyte trilobite car.

Snail Ar Car - Called the Golden Mean

Snail Ar Car - Called the Golden Mean

Snail Ar Car - Called the Golden Mean

Snail Ar Car - Called the Golden Mean

Snail Ar Car - Called the Golden Mean

Snail Ar Car - Called the Golden Mean

Story and photos by Emily Lang

ARTISTS IN LOVE, part 15

In 1886, Camille Claudel dictated a contract for her lover to sign. Claudel was only a young art student but her lover, the great sculptor Rodin, obediently wrote down every word:

In the future starting from this day of October 12, 1886, I will have as my Student only Mademoiselle Camille Claudel, who will be my sole protege.... I will accept no other students to avoid producing, by chance, rival talents, although I suppose that such naturally gifted artists occur very rarely.... Under no excuse will I ever go to visit Madame X again, to whom I will no longer teach sculpture. After the exhibition in May we will leave for Italy, remaining there at least six months together in indissoluble union after which Mademoiselle Camille will be my wife.
-- A. Rodin

Camille's contract doesn't specify what Rodin received in exchange, but his letters made it pretty darn clear:

I only had to meet you for everything to take on unknown life, for my gray existence to flare up in a bonfire. Thank you, for its to you that I owe the entire measure of heaven that I’ve had in this life.… My dearest, down on both knees I embrace your fair body.

Rodin met Camille when he was 42 and living with his long term companion, Rose Beuret. Rose was a seamstress who shared none of his friends or interests, but she took care of his daily needs and provided him with order and stability.

Camille took a job as Rodin's apprentice but critics agree she was so talented that she soon became a major influence on his art. The two worked side by side, creating beautiful and sensuous objects:





When the time was right, Camille disrobed for Rodin. Her nude form became the inspiration for some of his greatest works of art.



Rodin soon became a captive of his love for Camille. He followed her around, begging her to see him:

My savage sweetheart, Yesterday evening I scoured our usual places (for hours) without finding you. How sweet death would be!... I can’t take it any longer. I can’t go another day without seeing you.... I love you furiously. Rest assured dear Camille, that I have no liking for any other woman, that my entire soul belongs to you.

For years Rodin and Camille continued their partnership commingling art and love.


Statue by Camille

Eventually, the story of Camille and Rodin spiraled to a tragic end. He began to withdraw from the intense demands of their relationship, preferring the calm companionship of his "gray existence" with Rose. Camille became despondent, making angry sculptures about abandonment.



Before long Camille sank into mental illness, screaming in the streets that Rodin was trying to kill her and steal her ideas. She was placed in an asylum where she spent the rest of her life while Rodin married the talentless Rose and became wildly successful. His lack of passion for Rose did not seem to hinder his ability to make passionate art.





The fulgurous combination of Rodin and Camille emitted some illuminating sparks for us:

Rodin was better at creating art about love, but Camille was better at loving. She followed her passion for Rodin right over a cliff, while the more cowardly Rodin accompanied her only as far as the edge, then backed away.

If one thing is certain from the long history of art, it's that you can't make art and make love at the same time (or, in the words of Robert Coane, "you can't drool and draw.") Every artist who has tried to combine the two (and which artist over 18 has not?) ends up with artistic mush. Love requires acceptance and commitment while art requires discrimination and challenge. As much as we yearn to merge art and love, it seems that the price of great art remains detachment. Poet Peter Viereck wrote,

Art, being bartender, is never drunk
And magic that believes itself must die

Perhaps the separation between art and experience is the source of the very ache that leads to art.