Artists Keep on Truckin’
What’s with the recent proliferation of ice-cream trucks transformed into mobile art projects? In 2006 there was Karaoke Ice, a roving partymobile-cum-performance piece stocked with “tinklepop” standards and popsicles (co-created by former Metropolis art director Nancy Nowacek). Then, earlier this summer, we read about the Cloud Project, a retro dessert van modified by a pair of Royal College of Art students to launch ice-cream flavored clouds out of a giant spray gun. Now we’ve received news of Mister Artsee (left), a vintage ice-cream truck that’s being equipped by Atelier DNA with a Swiss Army Knife–like assortment of extensions, including a stage, video projectors, and a podium, to bring contemporary art to off-the-beaten-path locations in New York. (It debuts September 10 at the Half Gallery.) And I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re missing a few examples. (Debra Solomon’s Lucky Mi Fortune Cooking truck, which we wrote about last April, doesn’t count because it’s a snack truck—no frozen treats.) Please leave your theories about this interesting and potentially delicious trend in the comments form below.
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And look into the work of Marion Wilson, who created This Store Too, for the 2004 Counter Culture show organized by Melanie Cohn and the New Museum. Wilson also created a bicycle-driven project for the New Orleans biennial, fall 2008.
Comment by Mary Murray — August 27, 2009, @ 1:27 pm
I think there’s been a real longing recently for art to be more of a part of everyday life. An Ice cream truck is in some ways a natural fit…artistic treats. Mister Artsee seems to be taking off where the others stopped though. It seems like the entire vehicle has been transformed into a new kind venue completely for the arts. It’s not serving ice cream or has anything to do with it at all only some kind of kindred spirit of it’s ancentry remains. It something that even more works of art and ideas can be played out.
Comment by Fancesca Marinoff — August 27, 2009, @ 6:52 pm
Maybe this trend has to do with the Town Crier function of the Ice Cream truck. Many of these projects aren’t just about cold and creamy sweets but about social cohesion. An ice cream truck is a sort of pied piper, following the routes and locations of children (in a good way ; ). These trucks are great as a neighbourhood podium.
Comment by Debra Solomon / CULIBLOG.ORG — August 28, 2009, @ 5:03 am
Mr. Artsee is very interesting, because I have no doubt that when this art vehicle shows up in a child’s neighborhood to teach them about art, the kids are going to think it’s from another planet!
This idea is truly innovative, as the artist has borrowed the cultural currency of the Mr. Softee ice cream truck, and is using it to engage children, and more importantly – their parents who have to encourage them to engage with Mr. Artsee. I think Mr. Artsee will succeed, because any teacher will tell you that in order to engage a child – to teach them anything, you must first get their attention, then fire their imagination. I think Mr. Artsee will do both. Kudos to the Artist Elliott Arkin for dreaming this up!
Comment by David Clark — August 28, 2009, @ 10:28 am
Check out a couple of gals in LA putting their training to use. Ice Cream Sandwiches modeled after famous architects.
http://www.eatcoolhaus.com/
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1915762,00.html
Comment by Joe Simmons — September 2, 2009, @ 10:43 pm