The Denver MCA boasts something that most museums don’t have: a 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle parked on its nose outside the building. I’ve been trying to shoot a worthwhile photograph of this fine sculpture by Gonzalo Lebrija, entitled Entre La Vida y La Muerte, but I just don’t have the boss camera skilz to do it justice. Fortunately, I know a guy who does.
The Chevelle still has the engine, transmission, interior, the works, and appears to be in pretty good condition. Was it worth removing a solid classic Detroit car from street duty in the name of art? I say it was worth it; 425,300 Chevelles were built for the 1968 model year, so it’s not exactly rare, and Lebrija’s sculpture has thousands of non-car-freaks contemplating one of Detroit’s best designs.
Top photo credit/copyright, © 2011 Phil Waters Design
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That’s very cool.
You’re right, it was worth it. The collectable value is still pretty much in the SS variant (with some exceptions) as opposed to the more pedestrian Malibu used in this exhibit.
Agreed, it was one of Detroit’s best designs.
Kudos to Phil Walters, and yes, it was well worth it. I’m all for putting cars in art. My only disagreement with Murilee is that I think the ’64 and ’65 Chevelles were better designs than this one; nonetheless I think this one works better in this particular piece of art.
The Mass Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) in North Adams has a huge room with some flying first gen Tauruses.
The Mass Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) in North Adams
Time for a road trip on the Mohawk Trail!
A B-pillared Chevelle 300 2 door sedan would’ve been more appropriate. Save the hardtops! Otherwise, ver-r-r-r-y nice.
Every fiberglass Ronald McDonald and Big Boy within 50 miles of my high school managed to get snuck off a roof and hung out some high school kid’s convertible.
Don’t see why this could be any more challenging for a couple of enterprising young pranksters with a cheap winch, a few recovery straps, a sawzall and a stack of 2x12s.
I am slowly building a great collection of black & white automobile photos and this is the style of photography I admire and display. Murilee, will Phil Waters sell autographed prints? I’d love to purchase one. Thanks.
Yes, he’s a pro photographer so I’m sure he sells prints. Email me for his contact info.
this fine sculpture
Cool idea but I’m not sure that taking a stock car and mounting it on its nose constitutes sculpting. Sorry to be a curmudgeon but there’s more artistic effort and skill in one of my granddaughter’s refrigerator drawings. Somehow I think there’s more to art than taking something someone else made and putting it in an unusual situation. But then I’m a stuck-in-the-mud who thinks that artists should be able to do representational drawing.