Smithsonian Channel

Thanks to Smithsonian Channel’s series called America Wild & Wacky,  you can experience ArtCar Fest which takes place in California every year in the month of September.  ArtCars, in case you were wondering,  are licensed, registered vehicles that are permanently altered and street legal - we’re not talking about parade floats here. These are day-to-day transportation for these folks.

The Sashimi Tabernacle Choir ArtCar

Uploaded to Flickr by L. Marie, Click here to hear it play

Emily Duffy is just one of the many artists who shows her work at ArtCar Fest but she’s unique in that her mobile masterpiece,  which she calls the Vain Van, was designed to teach an important lesson.

Emily says she created this glittering girly car to teach women about self-esteem and body image.  Every thing attached to the car has its own message and they all add up to helping women feel good about themselves.

Watch the clip below to hear Emily - who happens to be the festival director - and her friends talk about why they think all the ArtCars play an important role in bringing art into the world everyday.