‘Cartists’ Get Ready to Roll

DUBAI - What looks like a picture taken of a salvage car yard, is going to be turned into a ‘cartistic’ extravaganza.

by

Dhanusha Gokulan

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Published: Fri 24 Apr 2009, 12:18 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 9:17 AM

Ten dilapidated cars, with their batteries disconnected, no wheel caps, and a bad paint job are being used for the ‘Car Art’ festival organised by the Dubai Festival Centre which began on April 20, and will continue till May 1.

Participants at the Car Art festival have used a myriad of objects like wood, steel, paper-mache, and lots of brightly coloured paints to make the cars a moving work of art.

Participating teams include various schools like Deira International School, GEMS Wellington International School, The Westminster School and Emirates International School for the event. Companies like Rage, Virgin Megastore, Jam Jar, Crowne Plaza Hotel and Four Seasons Golf Club have also pitched in with their artistic talent.

Leigh Petersen and Evan Collisson, the creative heads of Rage, are there with a skate board and a cycle and equipment store in the centre, closely examining every minute inch of the car that they were planning to work on. Without revealing too much of their plans, Petersen and Collisson said that they were going to make “a living, breathing skate mobile out of the car, something no one has even seen before.”

The talented duo were also seen hammering the bonnets and the sides of the car. “We’re planning to use wood, metal and bright colours like lime green, sky blue, red and yellow on the automobile,” said Petersen.

June Hamer, the Arts teacher at Deira International school said, “We’ve got years six and seven participating for the Car Art festival. The students have been divided into three teams, and they will be painting on three different cars. We’re planning to paint all the three cars with various symbols that make Dubai. We’ll be covering themes ranging from Dubai’s rich cultural heritage to it being a green-conscious emirate.”

Hamer added that the activity was good for the kids’ self esteem, good for their confidence and a different canvas to portray their art. “We are excited about painting the car. I like painting and I love doing collages,” enthused 11-year old Jude Afieh, from Jordan.

Luz Ocampo, 14, from Mexico said, “We got separated into different groups and each have to do their own thing. Right now, we’re just preparing for the competition, and all of us arereally excited.”

Tom Miles, Director Shopping Centre, Al Futtaim Group Real Estate said, “We work really hard at bringing creativity in the activities held here at Dubai Festival Centre. We give art to the public, good music to the public, and it’s an added incentive for us to bring festival into the mall because of its middle name,” said Miles.

Miles said that the centre plays host to concerts by high profile artists from all over the world, as well as organise events and activities for people of all communities and nationalities.

“As Festival Car Art was born as a community project with a cause, all proceeds from the Car Art auction that will take place after the Art Parade will go to Dubai Autism Centre,” said Miles.

The participating teams can be seen working on their objects of art between April 20 and 30 in the late afternoons and evenings outside Marks & Spencer area in the shopping mall.

The Grand Art Parade and judging will take place on Friday, May 1 starting at 5pm. —

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com


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