Mayor Kilpatrick Unveils Designs for CarTunes on Parade Oct. 12 - Detroit/Windsor Public Art Exhibit Organizers Still Seek Sponsors

DETROIT, Oct. 8 -- Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick will unveil 125 designs for CarTunes on Parade, a joint public art exhibit between the cities of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004 at 5:30 p.m. during a sponsor reception at the UAW-Ford National Program Center from 4-7 p.m. (151 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit). CarTunes on Parade is an outdoor art project celebrating the region's two most famous exports: cars and music.

CarTunes participants, sponsors, potential sponsors, and media interested in covering the event are invited to the Oct. 12 reception. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Call Vic Gutman at 313-275-5226 for details.

From June through September 2005, approximately 150 car-shaped sculptures (7' long x 4' tall x 3 1/2' wide) designed with musical themes, will be displayed in public spaces in Detroit and Windsor. In Detroit, the sculptures will be concentrated throughout downtown and along the riverfront as well as in the Midtown area and Foxtown.

"CarTunes on Parade is another way to show Metro Detroit residents and visitors the positive new development and events happening here in 2005 and beyond," says Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick. "While they're here to see these colorful sculptures by local artists, we hope they'll visit Detroit's outstanding attractions, hotels and restaurants."

The event was announced by Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick and Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis at Detroit's Hard Rock Cafe in March 2004. Artists from southeast Michigan and southwest Ontario submitted designs for CarTunes sculptures in July. The entries were judged, and selected artists will produce a full-sized sculpture for display.

Approximately 150 sculptures will be produced. The exhibit will add distinctive 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.

CarTunes on Parade is produced by the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and the Windsor Endowment for the Arts. Event sponsors to date are: DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors. Media partners include WDIV-TV 4, Detroit Free Press, WOMC-FM, The Windsor Star, The New WI and AM 800 CKLW.