"In the beginning, I looked around and could not find the car I'd been dreaming of: a small, lightweight sports car that uses energy efficiently. So I decided to build it myself." — Ferry Porsche
In the city of Carmel, Indiana, the Arts & Design District is a collage of artistic taste. There is the Center for Performing Arts, creative sculptures along the sidewalks, greenery from the Monon Trail, and a collection of shops, restaurants and galleries. It is truly a unique environment to celebrate the art and design of the automobile in an event aptly named Artomobilia.
Carmel has welcomed this Midwest event of wide-ranging cars and motorcycles since 2008. Cars are lined up down Main Street and Rangeline Road among all of the art and shops. The environment is creative and enthusiastic with live music, even on a day when the sunshine just can't break through the clouds.
More Porsches lined up along Main Street.
Exhibitors are able to talk with visitors passing by, and some even invite onlookers to climb into their cars. Porsches are present alongside other models of classic cars, European sports cars, muscle cars and super cars. About 400 vehicles were present at this year's, which took place Aug. 27, and some participated in one of 25 judged classes.
The sun finally started to break through the clouds later in the afternoon, just in time for the class winners to rev their engines and relocate to the main stage by the Indiana Design Center. Awards were distributed throughout the afternoon while participants sipped drinks and perused some of the loveliest cars in this year's Artomobilia.
One previous winner, Eric, shared a little about his Carrera GT. He said he has known John Leonard, the event director, since Artomobilia's roots in 2008.
"I've been in it from the beginning," Eric said when asked about his involvement with Artomobilia. He shared that he was competing with a BMW this year since his Carrera, as a previous winner, was ineligible this year.
Artomobilia had two new classes this year. One for antique trucks, and one for restomods. Restomods keep the car the same shape as the original, but the foundations are modified and brought up to speed with modern design. They are drivable and allow people to see something a little different along the Art & Design District streets.
Thought not a full restomod, Mark shared a little about his 1986 944 Porsche. He got the car from his doctor and made a few restorative modifications. Unfortunately, judges didn't seem to favor his updates to the car, but Mark said Artomobilia has given him a chance to have great conversations with others.
"It's been about four years since I started," Mark said. "Lots of people will come up to me and say, 'Hey, I've got a car like that!'" And that's how new friendships are born.
Participants at the 2015 Porsche Parade may remember Candyce Jones with her 1973 911S coupe. There, she was in the Porsche Parade Circle of Honor, but she was also first in class at Artomobilia in 2015.
"Artomobilia is an incredibly well-organized show," Jones told Carmel Magazine. "Carmel is a wonderful city. [Artomobilia] was the first time I had been to Carmel, and it was overall just a great experience for me."
A look at Eric's silver Carrera GT, which was not entered into this year's competition.
Carmel's myriad artistic talent really comes into play at this event. Photographer Tyler Ross presented a live photoshoot at the Indiana Design Center where visitors could see transformative automobile images with different use of camera angles and light.
Also throughout the Art & Design District, artists from the nonprofit Hoosier Salon were painting, having been inspired by all the cars for the Artomobilia Plein Air Paint-out. The Hoosier artists are nationally recognized for creating art that enhanced education and helps heal body and spirit.
And last but certainly not least, the entire Art & Design District was filled with the sounds of The Fun Factor Band and Shane Rodimel all afternoon.
John Leonard shares about Artomobilia: "What keeps me motivated are the stories from the car owners and because the Artomobilia weekend supports a really great and local cause. The people that support Artomobilia have been really supportive of the cause and so it made sense for the Indiana Children's Wish Fund to be our focus at Fuelicious."
Fuelicious takes place on the Friday night before Artomobilia at the Lucas Oil Estate in Carmel. It's a great evening of delicious food, beautiful cars and fellow car enthusiasts all in the name of a great cause. The Indiana Children's Wish Fund exists to fulfill wishes of Indiana's children aged 3-18 who are struggling with life-threatening or terminal illness. To this date, the Wish Fun has granted more than 3,200 wishes.
Cars have a unique way of bringing out the unique assets of their owners. Undoubtedly, for the exhibitors of Artomobilia, one of those assets is generosity.
One Porsche exhibitor continuously invited others to climb into his car. Young boys' faces glowed at the opportunity to slide in behind the wheel, and they were not shy about honking the horn. That's not usually something that happens at a car show, and it was a thrill for the visitors.
"Cars are meant to be driven, to be enjoyed," the owner said. "I got this Porsche brand new last July, and it already has 35,000 miles. It's my everyday car — snow, rain or shine."
Ferry Porsche looked around and couldn't find the car he wanted. So he decided to build it himself. Though not always chosen as the commonplace get-to-work and pick-up-the-kids car, Porsche is certainly able to do just that. And yet it maintains a present elegant enough to be celebrated for its design and creativity, among others, at Artomobilia.
The awards competition at the Indiana Design Center.
