London has joined Houston, San Francisco and a number of other major world cities in hosting its first annual Art Car parade on the 14th of June this year. Influenced by the work of Harrod Blank, Philo Northrup and the British Art Car group Walk the Plank, London resident Esther de Angelis threw herself into organising the event and can be extremely proud of herself for so doing, as the event was a big success, if a smaller event (this time) than the annual spectacles held in Houston and elsewhere. In total, ten cars and their owners took part in the parade which aimed to show everyone that it is possible to turn something as ordinary and commonplace as the motor car into something miraculous.

It has been interesting to watch as the parade was put together by Esther with little help and funding, using Facebook to corral support for the parade. It took in a convoy around much of England’s historic capital and caught the interest of many people who do not normally give art a second thought, and certainly would never think of entering a museum or gallery. It is important that this opportunity is taken to create another spiritual home for the Art Car and bring some brightness into people’s lives. Wouldn’t it be magnificent if the news bulletins had a few more Art Car parades and fewer bad news stories? For that reason, a salute must be given to Esther de Angelis and all the participants in the first ever London Art Car Parade.