Rex Community Caravan Bus
Concert goers at the Black Tie-Dye Ball at the Warfield will have noticed a spectacular small scale version of a painted bus, akin to that of the Merry Pranksters, prominent in the lobby. Below is the story of its creation. See it on the road....
The idea behind the Bus was to create a work of art that portrayed the Rex Community Caravan concept. The image at Rex Foundation's web page used for the link to the Rex Community Caravan was the inspiration. Dr. Really? gave Zim direction for creating that Bus in three dimensions, and Dr. Really? nurtured the design to replicate a 1937-1939 International Harvester bus which is what Kesey used for Further 1 and Further 2. If you look closely at the Rex Bus, the nuances of the pointed nose and fenders and headlights and curvature of the roof and rear end, and wheel wells are very close to the International Harvester vintage.
The embellishments of imagery on the side were inspirations from Vickisa's excellent painting skills. On one side there is an illustration of Jerry and Goldie. Vickisa also rendered the tie dye on the nose of the bus and created the "Newt" figure which is similar to "Newt" on Further 2 that Ron Boise created for Kesey on Further 2. We made a flag to stick into the "Newt's" hand. Zim painted the dancing figures on the other side using the Rex Community Caravan figures from the Rex web pages. These were originally creatd for Rex by graphic designer, Lisa Eng. Zim, Vickisa and Dr. Really? further embellished the Bus with paint, applied gris-gris, and lights. Dr. Really? made a pedestal for the Bus to rest upon as you saw it at the Warfield.
Dr. Really? created the lettering "Furthering" which Zim painted on the front. Furthering is the tagline for the Rex Foundation - Furthering a Tradition of Grassroots Giving.
The inside of the Rex Community Caravan Bus replicates the inside of the Prankster Bus with flourescent dayglo paint and black light.
The idea is now to use the Rex Community Caravan Bus for other Rex functions that will be forthcoming in the new year.
– The Art Police: Zim, Vickisa & Dr. Really?
