Car Mekka, Utrecht Biennale for Social Design No.4
Utrecht Manifest's Artistic Director Jurgen Bey asked various curators to work with the theme "A Working Landscape" in the Utrecht community called the Rotsoord, a once historically vibrant industrial area now competing with condominums. Curator Sophie Krier asked Hathaway Designs to work with her list of local expertise and with the local gas station. Six events at the Rotsoord Tamoil Gas Station and Car Wash were designed and experienced by the public and clients of the gas station. Through the "cross-breeding" of various local businesses with a gas station and car culture resulted in new viable community business models.
In addition, Hathaway Designs with designer Tony Michiels created a new line of products for the gas station from this new hybridization of businesses.
www.utrechtmanifest.nl
In addition, Hathaway Designs with designer Tony Michiels created a new line of products for the gas station from this new hybridization of businesses.
www.utrechtmanifest.nl
Events at the Tamoil Gas Station and Car Wash (please see Vimeo films below):
The Great Drive Thru Debate:
Learn about Your Car, and Give Students Real Time Experience: ROC Automotive car sales students Bill and Glenn debate various attributes of your car as you go through the car wash. A ribbon is given to the best debater by the driver, and a Best Debater Diploma 2012 is awarded to the one with the most ribbons at the end of the day. Ribbons made by local fashion designer Melissa Petersen - Bonvie.
Cleaning and Organizing Day:
Have your car washed and polished by an expert elderly home cleaner Paul Serto and your interior placed to perfection by professional organiser Ardy Kuipers. Your car is cleaned by "Serto Solutions" an organic secret recipe cleaner made by Paul Serto, and due to its success will be soon be in stores near you.
Beauty Day:
Have your manicure or "Manicar" while you wait for your car to be washed. Your car is a thing of beauty so why aren't you too? We are our cars after all. The Manicar allows you to select a polish and a car logo stencil for your nails, to be applied by manicurist Esmeralda Klinkenberg. Men don't be shy, its for you too!
Blessing Day, On Your Way!:
Keep well the road, and drive with St Christopher over your shoulder. With Pastors Harmsen and Martens of the Johannes de Doper-H.Bernardus Church, your car or any other way of getting around, will be blessed by holy water and a special prayer at the Tamoil gas station. All are welcome!
Thru the Carwash Lecture:
For your listening enjoyment, a CD is available when you buy a 8 minute carwash. As you sit in the wash, learn about the local area from historian Peter Sprangers, car tips from Sabrina van Dijk (owner of the Tamoil Carwash) and NL highway history from Melle Smets (artist and co-author of Snelweg Verhalen). Each segment runs 8 minutes. On the opening day have your CD signed by Emile Valenteijn, who is a local expert on car repair and maintentance, and a WW2 Jeep collector and restorer.
Pimp my Car and Me:
Pimp your car at the car wash terrain instantly! Any car is pimped with a special light application by light artists Jan Willem Campmans and Bram Boomgaardt. In a matter of minutes, you and your car are customized to your wildest desires. Official portrait of you and your car is given to each customer as a souvenir.
Drive in Movie:
Watch a specially produced film on cars and car love compiled from YouTube by film maker Jokko Voogt. Popcorn is popped on your car engine, and roller derby girls The Dom City Rollers serve it to you on rolling style to your window.
Thank You to the following local businesses who participated in Car Mekka:
Sabrina van Dijk, Owner Tamoil Gas Station
Paul Serto Professional Cleaning and Serto Solutions
Emile Valenteijn, WW2 Jeep Collector and Restorer
Jokko Voogt, Film Maker vimeo.com/jokkovoogt
Ardy Kuipers, Professional Organiser www.orgadesk.nl
Jan Willem Campmans, Light Artist www.wlum.nl and www.lightupcollective.com
Bram Boomgaardt, Light Artist www.lightupcollective.com
Peter Sprangers, Rotsoord Historian
Ruth Catsberg, Photographer www.ruthcatsburg.nl
ROC Automotive College, students Bill van Middendorp and Glenn van Es www.automotive.rocmn.nl
Melissa Petersen-Bonvie, Fashion Designer www.katoenenzo.nl
The Dom City Dolls Derby Club, www.domcitydolls.com
Esmeralda Klinkenberg, Manicurist, Esmeralda Nagel Studio, www.nagelschuurtje.deanv.nl
Winnie Helmes Ham, Interior Stylist www.stijlidee.nl
Pastors Hans Harmsen, Gerard Martens and assistants Guus van Putten and Jasper
Vulto of the H. Johannes de Doper-H.Bernardus Church http://home.kpn.nl/E.Wintjes/index.html
and more thanks to not so local but car/highway officiandos:
Melle Smets, Artist. www.mellesmets.nl
Jokko Voogt, videographer editor,https://vimeo.com/jokkovoogt
and to my producer/graphic designer in crime, Tony Michiels, https://www.linkedin.com/pub/tony-michiels/8/25a/292
and to the formidible, one and only, Sophie Krier, Curator Ici Rotsoord, Utrecht Manifest http://sophiekrier.com/works/ici-rotsoord-werklandschap-kruist/