Art cars a road show all its own
By Derek Walker
Berwyn Life, Mon Jun 25, 2007
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Berwyn, IL - Berwyn is long-renowned for its self-expression and a walk through the Cermak Plaza will prove that. Colorful sculptures emerge from the blacktops and unconventional, mesmerizing hunks of twisted metal are no stranger to the shopping center’s storefronts. With a history firmly etched in pop art and perhaps a wayward dream or two, there’s no question why Berwyn has created Cartopia, an event that caters to aspiring artists and impassioned residents.
     In its second year, the two-day art auto show brought together about 20 of the most inventive vehicles in the Chicagoland area. In the shadow of the city’s famed Spindle sat “Da Kuntry Pedlur,” a 1928 AA Ford truck designed by Rich Molden of Omaha, Neb. Molden’s machine carries an excessive hillbilly theme — one he’s been working hard on for the past three years. Carrying its original front-end and engine, Molden explains that everything else was his doing. “From the windshield on back is a figment of my imagination,” Molden said. “When I bought it, I knew what I was going to do with it. Friends of mine asked me when I was building this, ‘Where’s your plans’? I told them, ‘They’re between my ears.’” Draped with tin cans, adorned with cowbells and makeshift road signs, Molden’s rolling antique has a personality like no other. The truck also features bolted-on hacksaws, rusty rims, arrows driven through its wooden side-paneling, and the obligatory rubber chicken. While Molden’s ride may not be for everyone, he admits that most people can’t help but appreciate his work. “It’s not about miles per gallon; it’s about smiles per mile,” Molden said. “We always have a great reaction to the old truck. We try and have fun with people.”
     Another art car from out-of-state is Indiana-native Sonny Fenwick’s “Bubble Truck,” a 2001 Dodge Ram painted red, yellow and blue. As an artist and sculptor, Fenwick is always thinking of new ideas for his creation, which holds about 15 different suds-spewing contraptions. No matter what town Bubble Truck blows through, children are usually not far behind. Fenwick is also an active contributor to several charities, which is why he continues to build and upgrade his crafty car. “Kids and bubbles just go hand in hand,” Fenwick said. Much like Da Kuntry Pedlur, the Bubble Truck has received a rousing reception. Whether attending auto shows in Texas or partaking in a parade in Ohio, the soapy mobile is loved by all. “I get a lot of waves, a lot of looks and a lot of people taking pictures,” Fenwick said. 
    
     One of the more delicious designs was the “Donutmobile,” an idea cooked up by Chicago resident Danny Donuts, a self-proclaimed CPA: comic performance artist. During the afternoon parade, Donuts’ transformed 1996 Ford Windstar minivan led all cars down a designated route around Berwyn.
     Peeking her head through the roof was the event’s Grand Marshall and first “Miss Cartopia,” Suzy Brack, who helps produce their show “Rolling with Donuts.” The program takes a comical look at the everyday travel show, searching for the weirdest, wildest locales in America.
     “We thought Berwyn’s Cartopia would be quite quirky and unique, and that it is,” Donuts said.
     As it turns out, the Donutmobile contains no actual doughnuts. Bagels, Brack claims, are sturdier. Despite that fact, people still try to catch an early breakfast by asking if they are edible.
     “People are hoping they could eat the doughnuts,” Donuts said. “But they came out of a dumpster.”

     As the Cermak Plaza is a place of business, many in the area to shop were eventually drawn in by the mystique of Cartopia. Others, however, were there to appreciate pop art at its finest. Meg McKinley of Berwyn spent a generous amount of time studying each vehicle that piqued her interest. “It’s quite an intriguing exhibit,” McKinley said. “It brings some art into Berwyn and certainly fits in with the car-stack sort of art we have here.” Berwyn resident Joe Franco enjoyed the wild four-wheelers just as much, if not more than his child did. He also appreciated the impact an event such as this can have on the community. “I think it’s nice to see everyone in Berwyn try and get together and just have fun,” Franco said.


Contact :
danny@rollingwithdonuts.com
773-412-7780
Danny Donuts
3218 S. Green St.
Chicago, IL 60608