Yep, Detroit, the source from whence all American automobiles once sprang (well, most anyway), and I've heard it told it's where rust was invented as well. Detroit recently hosted its 54th anniversary Autorama, too. On the outside it may have been the middle of winter and near freezing, but inside Cobo Hall, licks of 1 Shot pinstriped flames kept everyone warm and toasty, thanks to the friction created by sword 'stripers being pulled across the surfaces of a myriad of objects at the annual Pinstripers' Jamboree. It's the world's largest panel jam, featuring over 150 of the most talented masters of the art extant. Perhaps the only other time this could have been topped was when cars rolled off Detroit assembly lines with hand-painted carriage 'striping.
Each year the word goes out from "Yosemite Sam" Radoff, aka "The Flame Doctor," to pinstripers across North America to participate in the Jamboree. And come to Detroit they do, in ever-growing numbers, and on their own dime, too. You see, this is a chance for the loose-knit brotherhood of 'stripers to give a little something back to a society that has accepted their once "outsider" form of art.
When I say "give a little back," I'm talking about the $41,775 raised from several auctions over the course of the long weekend going directly to the Rainbow Connection charity to fulfill the dreams of children with life-threatening and terminal illnesses. Every cent of the proceeds from these Kustom Kulture-decorated objects auctioned off goes directly to charity with no "operating expenses" taken out. It takes an average of about $4,000 to fulfill one dream, so this year's proceeds will translate into lots of smiles over the coming months.
With two professional auctioneers handling the sales, just being in the audience viewing the creative pieces on the block is worth the admission to the Autorama all by itself. But, if you stop by as a spectator, you'll find the mood quite infectious, more than likely setting your eyes on something you can't go home without. Just ask Editor Brian Brennan if you have any doubts. Heck, he even made top bid on one of my pieces-thanks, guy. Brian got caught up bidding on so much cool stuff I was beginning to fear the crowd would think him a shill. Heck, even one of the auctioneers broke tradition, starting the bidding on a piece he simply couldn't live without, then waited for the final bid and topped it. As for auction fever being infectious, many participating pinstripers took home the work of fellow artists to add to their collections, and even members of the Rainbow Connection staff joined in on the bidding. I know all four of my donated panels went to good homes, giving both myself and those with top bids more than our allotted share of warm and fuzzy feelings knowing everything was going to help ailing children.
So, if you're a pinstriper, or even a member of the fine arts community, stop by the Pinstripers' Jamboree next year, pull up a chair, and do your thing. All you have to bring is yourself, as the materials are provided. See you in Michigan in 2007. And if you get lost, just remember ... "they call it Detroit!"