NAN SANDERS POKERWINSKI
  • Home
  • Media
  • About
  • Contact
  • MANGO RASH
  • Blog
  • EVENTS
  • Journalism
  • Photography
  • Buy Books
  • Collages

HeartWood
A blog about cultivating
creativity, connection and contentment
wherever you are

Art-o-motive

2/19/2020

11 Comments

 
Picture
What's your favorite cabin fever cure? For us, believe it or not, there's nothing quite like a mid-winter car show. The bright lights and shiny surfaces seem to work wonders for our spirits. For decades, it was the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that gave us a lift every January. Starting this year, however, the Detroit show will take place in June, not January. Fortunately, there's still the Michigan International Auto Show in Grand Rapids. So this January, we gave that a go.

If you're not a auto buff, you may wonder what could be so interesting about wandering through aisle after aisle of cars and trucks. Well, it all depends on your perspective. Being a car guy through and through, Ray focuses on the technical aspects: horsepower, miles-per-gallon, that kind of stuff. I, on the other hand, am fascinated with the play of light on fenders, the shapes of headlights and taillights, the wardrobes of the spokespeople, and so on. I can entertain myself for hours taking photos from various angles and vantage points.

After going through my photos from the Grand Rapids show, I decided to look back at all my auto images--from car shows, museums, and roadsides--and share with you some of my favorites. As you'll see, rust and ruined paint catch my eye as much as polished chrome, and often it's the details that draw me in.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
What is it? See the next photo caption for the answer.
Picture
If you guessed "crushed car," you got it right! This was on display at the Grand Rapids car show, as part of a contest to guess the year, make, and model of the squashed vehicle. Some guy named Guenther nailed it: a 2006 BMW 750i weighing 2,464 lbs.

Do you find beauty in unexpected places? Share what you find, using the mail icon at the top of the page, and I'll post it in an upcoming blog.
11 Comments
Tonya H.
2/19/2020 06:44:40 am

Wow! Nan, I didn't know I could enjoy a car show, but with my artist's eye apreciiating the same kind of details that your artist's eye pays attention to, I suprizingly enjoyed your slide show and would like to see more. Maybe it's your love of collage that attracts you to the rust images?

Reply
Nan
2/19/2020 06:48:39 am

Or maybe it's because I'm getting old and rusty -- LOL!

Reply
Sally Pobojewski
2/19/2020 07:53:08 am

That makes two of us, my dear. Loved the pictures!

Nan
2/19/2020 08:00:41 am

Thanks, Sally and Tonya!

Reply
Kathryn M Clark link
2/19/2020 08:17:07 am

Car shows have never interested me. I'm not big on caring what i drive either. However, these are beautiful images, Nan. Makes me see these machines as beauty and art. 💗

Reply
Janet Glaser
2/19/2020 08:39:43 am

Love your imaginative, artistic photos. Who knew rust could be beautiful??? Cars are works of art with their sleek lines and color combos as well as being practical for carrying us to shop for groceries or to enjoy a date at the movies. I never appreciated the designs until I went to the Gilmore Care Museum near Kalamazoo. Cars from the first ones on the "roads" to the Muscle cars, sport cars, Edsel and forward. Gorgeous, quirky and filled with inventive ideas we take for granted. For a great day of "car-seeing" and photo-ops, head out to Gilmore.

Reply
Nan
2/19/2020 09:39:09 am

Believe it or not, we've never been to the Gilmore. It's one of those day trips we keep talking about. This year, I hope.

Reply
emily everett
2/20/2020 12:44:29 pm

great shots! especially that rusted-out truck window.

Reply
Sue Schneider
2/20/2020 03:27:19 pm

What fun to scroll through your pics. Great eye for the ordinary and extraordinary!

Reply
Valerie Deur
2/23/2020 08:03:51 pm

cool shots, is that waldo in the fist crush car shot? he has a nice green suit..

Reply
Nan
2/26/2020 06:18:23 am

Haha, Valerie -- I think it is!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Written from the heart,
    from the heart of the woods
    Read the introduction to HeartWood here.

    Subscribe to HeartWood

    Available now!

    Picture
    Check with your favorite bookseller or order from the BUY BOOKS page on this website.
    Get updates on Mango Rash
    BUY MANGO RASH

    Author

    Nan Sanders Pokerwinski, a former journalist, writes memoir and personal essays, makes collages and likes to play outside. She lives in West Michigan with her husband, Ray.

    Archives

    April 2022
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Better Living
    Books
    Community
    Creativity
    Events
    Explorations
    Food
    Gardens
    Guest Posts
    Health
    Inspiration
    Last Wednesday Wisdom
    Local Artists
    Mecosta County
    Montcalm County
    Music
    Muskegon County
    Nature
    Newaygo County
    Oceana County
    People
    Photography
    Pure Michigan
    Reflection
    Return To Paradise
    Samoa
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Media
  • About
  • Contact
  • MANGO RASH
  • Blog
  • EVENTS
  • Journalism
  • Photography
  • Buy Books
  • Collages