JAYPLAY
April 26, 2001
entertainment news
For comments, contact Erinn R. Barcomb at 864-4810 or jayplay@kansan.com
www.kansan.com/arts
The Art Tougeau Parade showcases self-decorated creations and raises money for a good cause.
By Aaron Lerner, Jayplay writer
izarre cars, wacky wheelchairs, bicycles, tricycles and lawn mowers will invade Lawrence on Saturday, May 5 for the fifth Art Tougeau (pronounced "to go") Parade. Participants in Lawrence's mobile-art extravaganza use their creativity to jazz up their wheeled canvasses and display them on Massachusetts Street at 10:30 a.m.
Charles Jones, Douglas County commissioner, has been organizing and running the event since it began in 1997.
"Every year we get more people and more creative entries," he said. "We have people who have come
Jean Ann Pike,
Lawrence resident,
garnishes
her car with
glitter to get it
ready for the
Art Tougeau
Parade. "It’s
quick art," she
said about her
short-lived decorating. The
glitter fades
after a couple
weeks, but she
said it’s fun
while it lasts.
Photo by
Selena Jabara/
KANSAN
from as far as Wichita, St. Louis and Houston."
Anyone is invited to decorate a vehicle to enter in the parade. The entry can be motor-driven, pedaled, pushed, pulled or dragged.
"Basically, anything is fair game," Jones said. "Just as long as it can keep up with the parade's pace of about five miles per hour. We even had a couple of wheelchairs in the parade last year. I was really proud of them."
The art car parade was established in 1997 as a benefit of Lawrence's Social Service League, a not-for-profit organization that provides clothing and living supplies to lower-income families at an affordable price. All parade proceeds are donated to the league. Although the parade is somewhat new to
"In Texas they have a famous art-car parade," said Charlie Hartman, Lawrence resident and parade participant. "They actually have parades like this all over. It's a great parade as well as a neat community thing — a chance to see some really neat vehicles."
Hartman, who drives his 1965 miniature Cooper in the parade, said the parade got local children and students involved in the community.
Jones agreed.
Jones said that some of the more memorable entries from years past have included a checkeder stretched limousine, bicycles that have been transformed into animals, a Honda sedan that had been cut apart and glued back together to make it appear very small and low-rider bicycles that are built by an area resident.
"Winners are awarded with trophies that are made by local kids in an art class," he said. "Although the winners vary each year, we will normally award a number of kids' groups for their efforts. Even if their projects aren't the greatest ones, we give awards for hard work."
"The idea was to put a bunch of stars on my car so that it would correlate with the Kansas state motto, 'To the stars through difficulty,'" he said. "However, the idea became kind of muddled when I just started sticking anything I could find on it."
Jones enters his own vehicle, which he calls the Ad Astra, into the parade.
Lawrence artist K.T. Walsh also has become a parade favorite for the various and extravagant entries she submits each year.
"We're working on a collaboration between the Chevy Aviation Division and the East Lawrence Velronic Division Assembly where we'll be working on a '67 Chevy truck," Walsh said. "That's all I can say,
One of her more popular creations was submitted two years ago: an El Camino covered entirely with knickknacks bought from a thrift store. But she has different plans this year.
though. The rest is a surprise."
Walsh, who brings a new vehicle to the parade each year, said she was able to do because she had the luxury of driving "old vehicles that don't last."
"I'll dress a car up for the parade, sell if for $100, and then get a new one," she said. "I actually sold the El Camino to the manager of the thrift shop who covered the whole thing with purple glitter. It's really cool."
Lynne Green, a parade participant since its inception, contributes in more ways than entering her vehicle. She is the executive director of Van Go Mobile Arts, an after-school and summer arts outreach program for local children at risk for violence and alcohol to give them a chance to learn and create art.
Each spring, she and her students, ages 8 to 13 years-old, pick some sort of transportation item to decorate and enter into the contest.
“This year the kids are going to build and paint a vending cart.” Green said. “We’ve done a Van Go boat before and a Van Go limo. Basically, it’s always a Van Go something.”
A row of trophies fastened watchfully on the hood of Art Tougeau founder Charles Jones' car. His car, Ad Astra, is covered with a variety of trophies, swizzel sticks and toys.
Photo by Selena Jabara/KANSAN
The checkered limo was painted by Van Go children.
Jones said that the parade usually attracted a wide range of people and that the diversity of the event was what made it exciting. He said he expected more than 1,000 spectators.
After the parade, there will be a party at 1:30 p.m., at Heartland Community Center, 1031 New Hampshire St. The event will include live music and the traditional showing of the short Academy Award-winning documentary on Leo Beuerman, a disfigured Lawrence resident who sold pencils while riding in a cart on Massachusetts Street in the 1960s. Jones said Beuerman's life helped inspire the parade.
After the party, participants are invited to create and perform a short skit lasting up to three minutes at the Lawrence Art Center. 200 W. Ninth St.
Jones encouraged all students to take part in the parade by picking up an entry form at the center or at the Social Service League. 905 Rhode Island St.
"There is not better way to have fun and help out at the same time," he said. "Things have gotten bigger and better every year, and this year should be no exception."
— Edited by Joshua Richards
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