Victoria Tarkington flanked by student artists
Westbury art teacher Victoria Tarkington always wanted her students to have the experience of creating and parading an art car in the annual Houston Art Car Parade.
While teaching in Fort Bend County, she knew that some schools had created art cars. But she never obtained a car and the other resources needed for such a project for her students to undertake.
In her second year of teaching at Westbury High School, though, Tarkington found out that the Gillman Automotive Group donates 10 cars to schools. She eagerly applied for such a vehicle, including an essay she wrote as part of her submission.
Westbury was awarded a 2011 Nissan Versa. The next challenge for Tarkington was to raise funds for supplies and get students to participate in the project. Supplies included all kinds of glue and paints, mirror pieces, compact disks and artificial flower material.
A $500 donation from the Orange Show Juice Fund, private donations, a GoFundMe campaign, and quite a bit of Tarkington’s own money provided the funds needed to buy materials to decorate the car. They got a donation of new tires as well.
Tarkington selected seven students who gave their commitment to do the work — much of it on Saturdays at the school — that would result in a parade entry dazzling and wacky enough to match the parade’s international reputation.
With the parade scheduled for Saturday, April 13, the students met their deadline and will proudly walk behind the car in the parade as Westbury Magnet Coordinator Donovan Harris drives it for them.
Husky in progress
“The theme is school spirit, as this is the very first time our school has participated in this event,” Tarkington said. “We wanted to show off our school pride and spirit and get our area and school some visibility.”
The students chose lots of nature images for their car decorations due to the school’s proximity to the Willow Waterhole Greenway.
“Rocks, flowers, were glued on and we represented water with mirrors throughout the car,” Tarkington said.
The culminating piece that took the longest to work on was an image of their school mascot, a Husky. It’s a mirrored mosaic that sits on the roof of the car.
They also will have a blue rope light around the entire vehicle to show their school color and a big 3-D “W” on a passenger door. The front license plate says “Westbury.”
The vehicle will be on display at a parade sneak peek at Discovery Green downtown on Thursday, April 11, from 6 to 10 p.m.
Officially named the Orange Show Center For Visionary Art’s 39th annual Houston Art Car Parade, the event is expected to draw 300,000 spectators and more than 250 arts cars. The parade starts at 2 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Dallas and Bagby streets.
https://www.thehoustonartcarparade.com/
— by Arlene Nisson Lassin
