Photographs by Ada Calhoun
In the beginning, Bill Rainey’s Object Dart was a trophy showcase with dozens of blank name plates shimmering in the sun. In the course of its life the car became a sophisticated and mobile version of the bathroom wall. Rainey drove the Dart with an engraver handy for anyone who wanted to add their name (Big Daddy Roth is there) or a profound quote (“Life is Art”). Though the finished Dart no longer runs, it to this day sits majestically (if somewhat buried by leaves) in Rainey’s backyard, everyone’s trophy.
David Jungen’s Stereotype One, an aquamarine Bug covered with elaborate configurations of aquarium gravel and toyus starts out with a beach theme and breaks down into a deliriously chaotic mix of dominoes, fuzzy dice, disco balls, and figurines. When he drives it to work, the Beetle sits on the top level of the parking garage, the shiny silver Statue of Liberty looking out optimistically over Austin.
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Jungle meet junk. Vince Hannemann, South Austin’s well-loved metal sculptor has a big black truck with a Ken doll on top. The naked figure peers out from a halo of rakes, toothbrushes, and magic markers andthe black of the pick-up is covered with every kind of camoflage stripe. Hannemann used to collect treasures at the recycling center where he once worked. The truck’s side advertises, “Junkie for Hire.”
This article appears in April 10 • 1998 and April 10 • 1998 (Cover).