There’s a place in Houston where old cars don’t die, they are just covered in enough gimcracks that eventually become art. That is a perhaps crude description for the art car movement, which began in the 1980’s, but accurate nonetheless.
The ArtCar Museum takes the medium quite seriously though, stating that "The museum celebrates the spirit of this post-modern age of car-culture, in which individuals have remolded the factory-model sameness of their automobiles to the specifications of their own idiosyncratic images and visions." Umm, okay.
Certainly the cars represent an enormous amount of creativity and ingenuity, but it is hard to get too existential about the projects when you are staring at a car bedecked in animal skulls, the entire contents of 1970’s basement, and a buffalo head.
Still it’s like falling down the rabbit hole in a way, as looking at each car invites you to look even longer and closer to discover something you never noticed before. Curiouser and curiouser.
The ArtCar Museum itself has its own junk art vibe, with the chrome dome exterior earning it the nickname “Garage Mahal” and making it unmistakable from the road. The interior can only showcase four or five of the thirteen cars in the museum’s collection, along with a gallery of photographs from the annual ArtCar Parade.
With such a small collection, you would expect to not spend much time in the museum, but the cars just won’t let you stop looking. During your visit you can easily play the world’s biggest game of I-Spy and never run out things to spy. It’s part fantasy and part freak show that keeps you captivated and coming back for more.
~I'm linking up with Budget Travelers Sandbox, Delicious Baby and R We There Yet Mom?~
A great place to visit….
Very nice way for cars to die. These have obviously gone to heaven.
You do find the coolest museums in Texas – your boys must have loved this one!
Funny motto aside, this place looks like such fun to visit. People must have spent years decorating some of those cars! That buffalo head is a bit much, though 🙂
How neat! This kind of reminded me of the Cadillac Ranch close to Amarillo 🙂 Except there you can make the art yourself. It's also not as imaginative though.
So here's yet another place in Houston I've never heard about. Next trip, it's on my list. Just the kind of quirky museum I enjoy.
I'm with Lisa. You find the coolest stuff. Love the detail shots. I wonder how much costume jewelrey is on that car.
Every once in a while, I see a vehicle "decorated" like this driving around the San Francisco Bay Area. You'll also find cars like this on display at the diRosa Preserve (http://www.dirosaart.org/) on the highway between the Sonoma and Napa Valleys in the wine-growing region just north of San Francisco.
I love how Texas has some of the quirkiest yet coolest attractions that I just want to visit. Buffalo head = creepy, though. Garage Mahal sounds awesome. My son and husband would love this.
I've never heard of a art car museum, but it looks like an interesting stop and makes me realize how unartistic I really am.
now that's a really great idea…and the only way you'll ever make me look at a car for more than 10 seconds!
Cars aren't really my thing, but this would be fun. I am a fan of quirky!
I'm with Jenna – but I love the fact cars havebeen recyled and have taken on a new life. There sure is a museum for everything these days.
The inside of my current car might qualify for this museum. I think my kids have spilt enough stuff back there now that it has to qualify as some sort of art.
Love the pool balls though. I'm gonna have to get me some of those for my "art".
I'm not sure I would spend too much time there, but I can guarantee my son and husband would love it!!! 🙂
Love the action figures! This place would definitely appeal just as much to kids as adults!
This is just too funny. I can understand how you could spend a lot of time here. Each one contains so much weird and wonderful detail.
Decorating dead cars! Can't get much quirkier than this!
WOW! I would love to visit this place…thanks for sharing it. Sending the link to my family who live in the area to see if they have been here yet. Amazing!
I’d love to see these old cars, they are very fascinating and have something artistic somehow,
Amazing car.lol Thank for share.