The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature has been awarded a grant from the city of Buellton Arts and Culture Committee to bring a new public art project to the community. The project is called Nature Takes the Wheel: A Public Art Project with Upcycled Hubcaps.
The grant will support a team of artists headed by art therapist Stacey Thompson to invite community members to paint and embellish used wheel covers (hubcaps) into nature-inspired artworks.
The project marks the Wildling Museum’s first public art initiative. The exhibit is on view until Oct. 31 at Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden and other sites.
“We are grateful to the city of Buellton for funding our first public art project that will encourage community members to upcycle used hubcaps into fun works of art for the whole community to enjoy,” said Stacey Otte-Demangate, Wildling Museum executive director.
“The project is a great expression of our mission to celebrate nature through art and encourage sustainable practices such as recycling and upcycling,” she said. “We encourage all ages to participate and we look forward to seeing what folks create.”
The grant allowed the Wildling Museum to hire local artist Thompson to lead the effort, and she has recruited two other local artists to support the project, Kiana Beckmen and Carolyn Dorwin.
The team is collecting hubcaps and art supplies and will prep the wheel covers for participants and provide supplies as needed. After artworks are turned in to the Wildling for display, the team will protect hubcaps with varnish before installing them at various locations, primarily in Buellton.
The first installation of nine wheel covers is underway at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, and once the Wildling is able to reopen, the museum will also feature an installation. With enough participants, organizers hope to extend the project to local Buellton businesses that may also host artworks throughout the city.