Georgetown Student's Art Cars at DC Auto Show

Washington DC Auto Show Features Georgetown Student Art Car Designs

^{COURTESY/L. COLLIER HYAMS Professor L. Collier Hyams’ “Sassy Lassie” tartan Mazda Miata and Zack Engler’s (COL ’18) “Hyper” CX-3 Mazda during the Washington Auto Show setup on Wednesday, Jan. 20. The show highlights artwork from 11 Georgetown students and Hyams}

“Each semester I enjoy challenging my Georgetown University Arts 162: Intro to Graphic Design students to create a series of art car designs based on particular themes. We start the semester very hands on with an instinctual ink and paint on paper approach. We then begin research and discussion on the Art Car Series founded by Hervé Poulain in 1975 with the Alexander Caulder BMW 3.0CSL and follow with works from Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and the complete series. A design theme is chosen, and for this Mazda CX-3 we took the inspiration Kodo: Soul of Motion. With this historical context in mind the students begin creating five original designs each. These are completed as digital art image files ready for transfer to printed vinyl panels that are then ‘wrapped’ on to our subject automobile. From the 130 or so resulting images a winner is chosen. I’m very proud to say this years top 3 winners chosen by MNAO Director of Design Julien Montousse are 1st Elle Vernerey’s FLASH, 2nd Zack Bennett-Engler’s HYPER, and 3rd Katherine Lee’s NATURE! 

This year we have Elle’s FLASH, Zack’s HYPER, and my SASSY LASSIE artcar(s) with an additional 9 student prints on exhibit at the Washington DC Autoshow, January 22-31, 2016, Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Elle’s artcar also led the 45th Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade, Alexandria, VA on December 5, 2015.”

Professor L.Collier Hyams
Digital Art and Multimedia
Art and Art History
Georgetown University

Published Articles

The Hoya

The art project is part of a partnership between Mazda and Professor L. Collier Hyams’ Introduction to Graphic Design class that challenged students to create car exterior artwork relating to the theme “Kodo,” a Japanese word roughly translating to “soul of motion.” Read Article

Automotive Rhythms

On display at ART-of-Motion were two Mazdas from Georgetown University. Professor L. Collier Hyams showcased the “Sassy Lassie” tartan Miata and a vibrant CX-3 at ART-of-Motion which also highlighted Mazda designs from 11 Georgetown students and Hyams. The art project is part of a partnership between Mazda and Professor Hyams’ Introduction to Graphic Design class that challenged students to create exterior artwork relating to the theme “Kodo,” a Japanese word roughly translating to “soul of motion.”  Read Article