CarTunes on Parade Announced: Detroit/Windsor Public Art Exhibit Celebrates Cars and Music

DETROIT, March 29 -- CarTunes on Parade, a joint project between the cities of Detroit and Windsor, Canada, is a public art exhibit that celebrates the region's two most famous exports: cars and music. From June through September of 2005, car-shaped sculptures (7' long x 4' tall x 3' wide) decorated with musical themes will be on display in public spaces throughout downtown Detroit and Windsor.

The event was announced earlier today by Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick and Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis at a press conference held at Detroit's Hard Rock Cafe.

"CarTunes on Parade follows in the success of other public art projects including the cows in Chicago, the pigs in Cincinnati and the moose in Toronto that created a fun and festive environment and substantially increased visitation to those cities," said Mayor Kilpatrick.

"This may be the first international public art exhibit of its kind," said Mayor Francis. "We hope this project will encourage more cross-border visits so people can experience how easy it is to travel between our two countries and enjoy what both cities have to offer visitors."

Artists from southeast Michigan and southwest Ontario will submit designs for the CarTunes sculptures. The deadline for submitting an application is July 1 and the maquette design submission deadline is July 15. These entries will be judged and if selected, the artists will produce the full-sized sculpture for display.

Approximately 150 to 200 sculptures are expected to be produced. The exhibit will add unique beauty and character to public spaces, encourage art appreciation and provide both residents and visitors alike with an invitation to explore the downtown areas of both cities.

At the conclusion of the event, the CarTunes on Parade sculptures will be auctioned to the highest bidders. Proceeds will be split three ways. One third will go to either the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit or the Windsor Endowment for the Arts, depending on if the sculpture sponsor was from Detroit or Windsor, one third will go to the artist and the final third will go to a charity selected by the buyer of the sculpture.

Honorary cochairs for the event are: Ed Welburn, vice president of design for General Motors, Peter Horbury, executive director of North American design for Ford Motor Company, Dr. Ross Paul, president of the University of Windsor, and Dr. Jane Brindley, incoming president of the Art Gallery of Windsor.

Event sponsors to date are: General Motors and Ford Motor Company. Media partners include WDIV-TV 4, Detroit Free Press, WOMC-FM, The Windsor Star, The New WI and CKLW-AM.

Sponsorship packages are available beginning at $5,000 for an individual car. For artist applications or sponsorship guidelines, visit www.cartunesonparade.org or phone Vic Gutman at 313.275.5226.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media may download images at www.cartunesonparade.org/press .