Vehicles For Change, a nonprofit dedicated to providing
vehicles to the disadvantaged in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, is launching a
new Art Van. The organization hopes the combination exhibit and ongoing art
project on wheels will raise awareness for its program.
The Art Van is a work in progress. Initial painting on the
van's mural was done by the residents of the City Arts Apartments in Station
North. After finding out about Vehicles For Change's desire to have an art car
of their own, Danny Stuelpnagel, coordinator of the art cars exhibition at
ArtScape, stepped in to coordinate the development of the Art Van.
Vehicles for Change will be taking the Art Van on tour this summer,
visiting festivals and events around the state. The Art Van will be making
appearances at the Annapolis Arts & Crafts Festival, Columbia Festival of
the Arts, ROOTS Fest, and ArtScape.
At each stop, festival visitors will be encourages to explore
the Art Van's interactive features. Festival goers will be encourages to
contribute to the ongoing art project by taking up brushes to further embellish
the Art Van. Visitors will also be able to interact with the Art Van by playing
a game with the magnetic pieces attached to the van. The game is designed to
raise awareness about the challenges faced by low-income families without cars.
Vehicles For Change has donated more than 3,500 vehicles to
the disadvantaged in the area since its inception in 1999. The Art Van is being
underwritten by Precision Tune and PNC Bank. The festivals at which the Art Van
is appearing have waived exhibitor fees for the community outreach project, and
local merchants have donated the prizes used in the game.
Author: Amy McNeal
Source: Robin Yasinow, Vehicles For Change