Autoblog

Pierre Arpin turns metal into "immortal" art

Zach Bowman — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:03:00 EST

We've all heard the argument that cars can't be art. As a commodity, vehicles are slaves to parameters of functionality, manufacturing and economics that simply have no bearing on traditional works, but Canadian sculptor Pierre Arpin believes that shouldn't stop car parts from ascending beyond their usual lot in life. While waiting in a repair shop, Arpin spotted a trashed hood and asked to take it home. The shop obliged, starting the artist down a lengthy path of creation. While he typically favors hoods, doors and radiators have also received his unique touch.

Arpin uses heat to remove the orignial paint before taking a grinder to the metal to create his unique designs. Depending on the work, paint may be reapplied afterward. The artist calls the process a type of "alchemy," and says that the technique gives the pieces a certain level of "immortality." We don't know about that, but as people with various car body parts strewn about our offices, we can see the appeal.

Pierre Arpin turns metal into "immortal" art originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog's Top 100 Photographs of 2011

Drew Phillips — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

We are nearly at the end of 2011, and that means another 365 days of driving the latest cars and attending automotive events around the world. Of course, we constantly have our cameras at our sides so we can share everything with you, and we take a lot of pride in bringing you beautiful, high-res images of all the cars we come across, whether it's one that just debuted at an auto show or one that just spent a week in our garage.

As has become tradition here at Autoblog, we've spent the last few weeks going through our archive of images to select the very best photos that we captured with our own cameras from the last year. We've carefully chosen our favorite 100, which you can see in the gallery above. We've also included links to the article in which the image originally appeared, in case you want to see more photos of the car or event.

We hope you enjoy viewing the images as much as we did taking them and putting them together. If you want to see our favorite images from previous years, you can view our galleries from 2010, 2009 and 2008. Enjoy!

Autoblog's Top 100 Photographs of 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Holidays from Autoblog!

Autoblog Staff — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc.

Like so many of you, we're spending the holidays with family and friends. Regardless, we've got a few posts scheduled for you the rest of today and tomorrow; the normal daily grind resumes on Tuesday. You'll be hard-pressed to find two better links to peruse and read in your downtime today, however, then the ones we're about to show you.

The most fun thing about the annual "Happy Holidays" post is finding a suitable lead image for it. Many readers will doubtless recognize the wintry scene above, depicting a 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400, as the work of Art Fitzpatrick and Van Kaufman. The two (Mr. Kaufman painted the scenery and people, Mr. Fitzpatrick the cars) are best known for their Pontiac works - so excellent that for years, per John Delorean's orders, they were the only images authorized for use in Pontiac advertising (no photos allowed) - but their decades-long collaboration also produced images for other brands as well. Fitz and Van started collaborating in the 1950s on Mercury, then moved to General Motors to work on Buick, which led to the iconic Pontiac run, as well as similar works for Opel during Bob Lutz's tenure there in the 1970s. We remember reading somewhere that Lutz has one of the Fitz and Van originals for Opel hanging in his home.

Your mission today, between good times and great meals with friends and family, is to check out the page on Fitz & Van at PontiacsOnline.com, where you can scroll through most of the 285 works the pair created for the late, lamented performance division. From there, head to Art Fitzpatrick's homepage, for an excellent bio and more work examples, some that you'll recognize from recent years. We promise you'll be engrossed.

All of us at Autoblog wish you a happy and healthy holiday, whether you're celebrating a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Festivus (for the rest of us), or just sitting at home and enjoying some well-deserved down time. Have a wonderful holiday - and as always, please drive safely while you make the rounds today.

Happy Holidays from Autoblog! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Artist createst indelible Camaro graphics with Sharpie markers

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Etc., Chevrolet, Design/Style

Remember the Sharpie Lamborghini Gallardo from 2007? A Chevrolet Camaro has been given a similar treatment courtesy of Maryland-based professional pinstriper Chris Dunlop. Stepping away from his cans of paint and fine brushes, Dunlop has created two magnificently detailed Sharpie tapestries where the original pinstripes would have been.

According to LSX TV, Dunlop says this Camaro is the fourth car he's decorated like this, and others have followed. Ten pens gave their lives to the cause of art, as well as a few layers of clearcoat to make sure the ink remains permanent. If you happen to think you could do this at home to your own ride, have a look at the detail shots in the gallery - a Sharpie isn't just a marker in Dunlop's hands.

Artist createst indelible Camaro graphics with Sharpie markers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wim Delvoye's carved tire art is steel-belted beauty

Zach Bowman — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Design/Style

It's a good thing we aren't fabulously wealthy, otherwise our domiciles would be clad in all sorts of clever automotive art. We're not just talking cheesy vinyl bench-seat sofas and engine-block coffee tables, either. We like to think our taste elevates above some of the more common automotive décor we've seen. Take Wim Delvoye's intricate tire carvings, for example. Each piece is filled with exquisite detail and is hand carved. Untold hours have been sunk into each piece (we have to imagine that this isn't the type of thing that gets churned out in an afternoon - or a week of afternoons, for that matter).

The only question, is how does one go about displaying a decorative carved tire in one's home? Would it work as a stylish table center piece? How about hanging from the ceiling? We say let experimentation be your guide.

Judging by the gallery names on Delvoye's site, these carved tires might actually be a few years old, but this is the first time we've seen them. If they're new to you as well, check out our full gallery, then visit Delvoye's website by clicking on the link below.

Wim Delvoye's carved tire art is steel-belted beauty originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Gifts for Christmas: Ultimate Edition

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Our third and final list of car gifts for Christmas is made up of things we sadly can't afford ourselves. These are top-notch gift ideas for those who happen to fall into the very highest tax brackets, and we are officially envious of anyone who receives anything on this list. Too rich for your blood? No problem, check out some less expensive gift ideas here and here.

See the list...

Continue reading Car Gifts for Christmas: Ultimate Edition

Car Gifts for Christmas: Ultimate Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Russia, drunk driving means bottle drinks you!

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Russia, Design/Style

In an attempt to convince drivers of the pitfalls of drunk driving, Russian authorities have commissioned a giant metal vodka bottle filled with the broken remains of crashed vehicles. The 40-foot tall structure will be located just off of a highway outside of Odintsovo in order to ~~scare the living daylights out of~~ educate those who may be interested in throwing a few back without a designated driver.

Once installed, the massive bottle was wrapped in the crushed remains of even more vehicles in order to create a more easily recognizable image. We've always wondered what you'd get if you took the time to distill Lada mash. Now we know. You can check out a slew of images of the bottle over at EnglishRussia, complete with burly half-naked Russian construction workers. We didn't say it'd be pretty.

[Source: English Russia]

In Russia, drunk driving means bottle drinks you! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: Cool As Ice: Japanese architect builds full-size transparent Lexus LFA

Drew Phillips — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus, Design/Style

Transparent Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

Next to the Lexus LFA display at this week's Tokyo Motor Show is a separate room displaying brand-themed art. At first, we didn't bother going in, but we went back here on day two, and we're sure glad we did.

Inside, we found this amazing full-size transparent sculpture of Lexus' new $375,000 LFA supercar that was constructed by Scu Fujimoto, a noted Japanese architect. The sculpture was first displayed at the Milan Design Week earlier this year and is simply stunning to look at. What's most impressive is that details like the seats, instrument panel, engine, suspension, and transaxle can all be seen.

According to Lexus, the sculpture is constructed from transparent acrylic boards that have been sanded and polished. You can learn more about this unique piece of automotive art at Lexus' L-Finesse web site, but make sure to check out its stunning icy hotness in our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Transparent Lexus LFA

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: 2011 Lexus LFA

Tokyo 2009: Cool As Ice: Japanese architect builds full-size transparent Lexus LFA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two real muscle cars destroyed for art's sake... Art is mad

Dan Roth — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:54:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., GM, Pontiac, Lifestyle

Jonathan Schipper started grinding models of muscle cars into each other like tectonic plates as a way to express the "slow, inevitable death of American Muscle," and he's progressed to using two actual cars at an installation at Chicago's NEXT Art fair.

Well, let us tell you, Jonathan: American muscle is alive and well. Taken a look at horsepower ratings lately? How about some recent Nurburgring lap times from GM products? Time and technology have marched on from the Firebird and Camaro of the Foghat era, so there's no need to give two examples a slow ride into each other's sheetmetal just to point out that there's hardly any around. Cars are a commodity, so by nature, old cars will "die off" through crashes, rusting away, or being recycled for parts and then sold for scrap. It could be that we just don't get it, but really, maybe Schipper could learn how to paint like Von Dutch if he wants to do art with cars. This particular piece makes Piss Christ look like the Mona Lisa. Time-lapse video after the jump - thanks for the tip, Joe!

[Source: Hemmings, Photo: Art Addict]

Continue reading Two real muscle cars destroyed for art's sake... Art is mad

Two real muscle cars destroyed for art's sake... Art is mad originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 May 2008 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auto Art: little cars meet their little ends at little trees

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:51:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games, Lifestyle

So we've told you about slow motion car crashes, a Warhol painting of pictures of a car crash that sold for $71 million, and of course there's always Lindsay Lohan creating her own life-sized crash-themed art. Now we present John Rooney, a Boston artist who creates set pieces of small, intricately detailed cars that have met their ends at the trunks of Bonsai trees.

It's called Crash Bonsai (or "art," take your pick), and Rooney doesn't spare any time in their creation. The cars aren't simply hurtled into Bonsais -- oh no -- "each model is unique, and individually disassembled, cut, melted, filed, smash, then reassembled to replicate a real fender bender." What's also cool is their versatility, as the little vehicles also "look great on coffee tables, kitchen counters, smashing into lamps and toasters." (However, as a Bostonite, Rooney should know what a "fender bender" is... and he should know a car plowing into a tree doesn't really qualify.)

There's a variety of cars to choose from, from a 1940 BMW 328 to a PT Cruiser, or you can commission your own. Prices start at $50 (minus the Bonsai or other immovable object of your choice). As much as we want to raise our eyebrows, we have to admit that it's... kinda like watching... a car crash... and we just can't turn away. Remember when they used to show these kinds of things in driver's ed videos as something you wanted to avoid? Yeah. Now it's merchandise. Vive la revolucion.

[Source: Winding Road]

Auto Art: little cars meet their little ends at little trees originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW components a work of art

Joel Arellano — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., BMW

Vehicle Design students at the Royal College of Art in London, England, received an interesting request from BMW. Company officials stopped by and asked them to compose works of art using parts from the German automaker's vehicles. Fourteen entries were submitted, and five winners were selected. They are:

Dynamism of a Wishbone
1913 (pictured)
The Screw (pictured)
Out of The Frame
BMW Fossil

An online gallery of the winning works can be found at the link.

[Source: Auto Channel]

BMW components a work of art originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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