Call for Young Artists: Design a Car With a Music Theme; CarTunes on Parade Works With Area Schools to Promote Art and Technology

DETROIT, Aug. 16, 2004 -- CarTunes on Parade, a public art exhibit between the cities of Detroit and Windsor, Canada, has introduced its educational component. The CarTunes committee has developed a web-based curriculum with opportunities for participation from area grade school through high school-aged children.

Content includes the history of the automotive industry and the area's music heritage, the arts in relation to the automotive industry and a section on public art. Transmat Records of Detroit, with pre-eminent Techno artist Derrick May and label manager and recording artist Kevin Reynolds, have provided a bundle of music files by Transmat artists to enliven the site's music component. The instructional support material can be accessed electronically at http://www.cartunesonparade.org/ .

Teachers can get their classrooms involved on many levels, from downloading images for younger students to color to ordering and designing maquettes ($4 each). The teaching tool kit also details field testing experiments that encourage exploration of the science behind the materials used to manufacture the sculptures. A second phase of the curriculum will be introduced in December.

Artists from southeast Michigan and southwest Ontario submitted designs for the CarTunes sculptures earlier this year. These entries are now being judged and if selected, the artists will produce the full-sized sculpture for display. Detroit public high schools and Essex County, Ontario secondary school students now have a similar opportunity. Students in these districts can work through their schools on two-dimensional designs that will be submitted for review and possible sponsorship and full-scale production. The deadline for student submissions of the concept cars is October 28, 2004.

"Our hope is that students and educators will embrace this opportunity, which requires comprehensive problem solving skills and creative production," said Christine Goodchild, curator of education for the Art Gallery of Windsor. "It's a terrific project and we are excited to provide a way for our area youth to get involved."

The CarTunes Education Committee also includes representatives from the College for Creative Studies, The Detroit Artist Market, the YMCA Detroit, Wayne State University, the Greater Essex County District School Board and the Windsor and Essex County District Catholic School Board, the University of Windsor, the Windsor Endowment for the Arts, and the Art Gallery of Windsor.

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.

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.

Event sponsors to date are: DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corp. 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 sponsorship guidelines, visit http://www.cartunesonparade.org/ or phone Vic Gutman at 313-275-5226. Media may download images at http://www.cartunesonparade.org/press .