The Cadillac Ranch Near Amarillo, Texas: Sculpture or Eyesore?

Across the country locals question the motive behind some strange pieces of art, Amarillo Texas, Alliance Nebraska, Berwyn Illinois, all places stricken with a similar plight, in the name of car art, junk cars have been stacked, stabbed, buried, and displayed. You decide, is it art, or is it eyesore.

In 1974 Millionaire rancher Stanley Marsh added to the long list of interesting things to see along Route 66. Just a few miles west of Amarillo he planted a bunch of old Cadillacs nose down in the Texas dust. Ten rusting hulks, resting half buried and pointing west, all lined up in a row. A few hundred yards off interstate 40, the replacement for Route 66, these wrecks are covered with many layers of multi-colored graffiti. Thirty years of kids, and adults both, climbing all over, leaving their mark for posterity.

Cermak Plaza Shopping Center in Berwyn, Illinois has gone vertical with a similar theme. in 1989 L.A. artist Dustin Shuler created his version of auto art. In the middle of the parking lot is erected a 40' spike referred to as the Spindle. Impaled on this tall apparatus shaped like a nail are Eight Cars. With a VW Bug at the top, they increase in size going down to a full sized four door sedan on the bottom.

One of Mr. Shuler's other car related pieces is a "Pinto Pelt". The body of a Ford Pinto, flattened to mere inches and hung on the wall outside a Walgreen's Drug Store. In an effort to represent the hide of a horse, or similar large animal, the Ford Pinto is as good as any to crush. Thankfully he kept his hands off the Mustang.

With a number of replica's of Stonehenge, The Mystical English Ruins, established around the country, Alliance Nebraska has put their own spin on the monument. They have created their automotive version called Carhenge. Using 38 different vehicles, farmer Jim Reinders created his version of the circular structure. By half burying cars vertically in a circle, with others attached across the tops a semi-accurate duplicate of Stonehenge was built as a memorial to his Dad. The cars are all painted a flat gray to symbolize the color of stone.

At first Alliance didn't appreciate his attempt at the arts, and made efforts to hide or remove it. As time passed it's gained acceptance, and a Car-Art park has been established to expand on the theme. With such pieces as The Fourd Seasons, (a tribute to wheat) and The Carnastoga Wagon.

Some artists prefer to have their Car Art in a mobile fashion. Known rather as Art Cars these rolling expressions of someone's idea of art can be seen driving down the road. In the 60's it was Psychedelic paint jobs, today it can be way over the top. Some attach all sorts of trinkets and baubles to their cars, others follow a particular theme. One artist grew grass all over his car, making it living art. The Art Car community have rallies, and events to display their drivable creations.

Some people recycle their old cars, off to the scrap yard to be reborn as new shiny machines, right out of the factory. Others save them as trophies, lining them up behind the barn or along the back property line. Then there are the artists, who knows what they will come up with next, all in the name of art.

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