Shifting Gears: The Making of an Art Car

Reynolds Gallery is pleased to announce Shifting Gears: The Making of an Art Car, a process exhibition opening Tuesday, February 20, on view until March 9. Join a selected group of Pacific student artists as they paint and transform the Art Car. The revealing of the finished Art Car will take place during a reception in the gallery, March 8, 6:00-8:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. This exhibition will also feature a series of painted car parts by the University of the Pacific students.

Pacific student artists selected to paint Art Car:

Mia Arostigui    Olubori Babaoye    Crystal Baltazar
Kyle Sabbatino    Danielle Thomasson    Leila Valencia

This project is the brainchild of Pacific alumnus Dick McClure '78. A lifelong obsession with speed and style has led to a substantial collection of vintage sports cars. McClure organizes the annual Fall Colors Moto Tour whose members gathered at Pacific last October to hand over the keys to a 1982 BMW 320i for students to transform.

The members support for this project enabled interested students to visit the local pick-n-pull and select car body parts to try out their painting skills. Developing a concept for their art car tested their collaborative and technical skills as well. Art cars were first introduced in 1975 by the French racecar driver and auctioneer Hervé Poulain. He began this era of car canvases when he commissioned American artist and friend Alexander Calder to paint and transform the first BMW Art Car, presenting a recognizable canvas for complex ideas.

In preparation for the exhibition Mike Lamm, automotive journalist, author, historian and Phil Toy, professional automotive photographer visited campus to meet students and provide context for the evolution of car design and aesthetics. McClure shared examples of art cars from Janis Joplin, to Alexander Calder, Barbara Kruger, and Andy Warhol. Local muralist Carlos Lopez met with students providing invaluable technical advice about working on a large scale with industrial material. Support for the exhibition is provided by the Department of Art & Graphic Design and the Pacific Alumni Association.