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Shep - 2012 Houston Art Car Parade

The annual weekend of wackiness that is the Houston Art Car Parade just wrapped its 25th anniversary. As always, the entries didn’t disappoint. E3 Spark Plugs congratulates all the winners of the world’s biggest art car event.

Debuting in 1988, the Houston Art Car Parade originally featured 40 vehicles seen by an estimated 2,000 people. The relatively small event proved a big hit and by the next year, parade entries doubled and crowds swelled to tens of thousands. In 1989, the event got a major public relations boost from art car maker Harrod Blank, who eventually would write two books and produce two films on art cars. Soon, caravans of art cars were traveling from clear across the country, thousands of miles just to appear in the parade.

That momentum has continued over the years. The three-day 2012 event featured more than 250 vehicles and other entries, including unicycles, lawnmowers and go-carts. Participants hail from throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico and are not just recognized artists, but students, organizations and fun-loving Jane and John Does. Upwards of 250,000 spectators turn out each year to watch the parade.

Similarly inspired events include the Tulsa ArtCar Weekend going through Sunday, and the Minnesota ArtCar + ArtBike Parade slated for Saturday, July 21.

E3 Spark Plugs shares a few of its favorite 2012 Houston Art Car Parade entries below. Which was your favorite? If you attended the parade, share your pics on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page. And be sure to catch a screening of Art Car: The Movie, a documentary that follows Rebecca Bass and her high school class as they prepare an entry for the 2010 Houston Art Car Parade.

Art Car: The Movie follows several artists as they prepare for the 2010 Houston Art Car Parade.

With 300 entrants and more than 300,000 spectators, the Houston Art Car Parade is the biggest of its kind worldwide. And if you’ve never had the chance to experience it, E3 Spark Plugs highly recommends Art Car: The Movie, an entertaining and inspiring telling of the classic American story of the quintessential form of public art.

Premiering at the Cinema Arts Festival in Houston last night, Art Car follows a cadre of artists as they prepare for the 2010 Houston Art Car Parade. Two artists getting lots of screen time are Rebecca Bass, a teacher at an underprivileged high school struggling with her art class to complete what will be her 20th, and possibly last, art car; and Mark “Scrapdaddy” Bradford, a full-time artist grinding to make ends meet while conceptualizing his ultimate artistic dream. Both are renowned Houston artists and Art Car Parade veterans with one shared goal and two very different approaches for hitting that goal.

Viewers also peek in on the parade’s organizer, the Orange Show for Visionary Art and the City of Houston for a look at the behind-the-scenes stress-fest that makes the Art Car Parade a success each year. Along the way, you’ll also travel across the U.S. with co-directors Carlton Ahrens and Ford Gunter visiting artist, critics and academics in a mind-boggling quest: to define the car’s place in the art world, in American culture and as a reflection of self.

A few celebrities make the cut, too, including 2010 Grand Marshal Dan Akyroyd, 2010 participant Larry the Cable Guy and past Grand Marshal George Clinton. Art Car likely will travel the film festival circuit for a bit before landing theatrical release or DVD distribution. Visit the film’s website for updates.

Have you ever participated in or attended a Houston Art Car Parade? We want to see your pics. Post ‘em on our E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page. And make your travel plans now for the 2012 parade in May.