Rex Burnett Invitational

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit remains through August 2, 2009
Burnett Gallery and Jacob Foyer

The Rex Burnett Invitational art exhibit combines the three-dimensional appeal of creatively designed cars with the two-dimensional art that depicts them in a memorial tribute to Rex Burnett, an internationally recognized pioneer of cut away drawings featured in "Hot Rod" magazine.

This show is scheduled to open on Saturday, July 11 and should attract a large number of hot rod buffs eager to celebrate the creative genius of Rex, who had been a long-time Sea Ranch resident and patron of Gualala. Arts. In the postwar forties he worked as a technical illustrator in the aircraft industry when he participated in the birth of the classic Hot Rod magazine and started drawing for the publication.

The exhibit will feature his cutaway drawings done without the benefit of computers and 3-D CAD programs. These pieces have attracted attention from not only hot rod buffs but also from the art world. One of his most famous drawings is the Pierson Brothers Coupe. Last year the Behring Auto Museum at Blackhawk featured his work in a one-man show and some drawings were part of an exhibit at the Oakland Museum entitled "The Men and Machines of the California Car Culture."

Other current artists whose art incorporates the same subject matter will be included in the show. The exhibit runs through Sunday, August 2 and provides an excellent lead up to Art in the Redwoods.

Dragster

A 1960s era dragster, restored by David and John Kiley, will be on display in the Jacob Foyer.

Drag racing was born on the back roads and lake beds of Southern California where hot rodders have congregated since the 1930s. After World War II the Southern California Timing Association was formed and the first SCTA Speed Week was held at Bonneville Salt Flats in 1949. The first drag strip was started in Santa Ana, California in 1950. A dragster races in a ¼ mile straight track. It is timed from a standing start to finish in what is called elapsed time.

This A-A fuel dragster was built and owned by the Ewell, Bell, Stecker and Olson Racing Team. In 1969 it was timed 6.22 seconds and reached a top speed in the quarter mile of 221 miles per hour. It is powered by a 392 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi. The horsepower is rated at 2700 on racing fuel which is nitro methane.

It has been recently restored to its original glory by brothers Dave and John Kiley of Folsom, California. The dragster appears in car shows, parades and selected Cacklefests where sometimes it is started but no longer raced. A Cacklefest is a dragster reunion such as the one held in 2007 at the famed Fomoso Drag Strip in Bakersfield, California.

2009 Gualala Arts Auto Show

Saturday, July 18, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Rex Burnett Invitational exhibit is scheduled to open at Gualala Arts Center on Saturday, July 11, 2009 and it should attract a large number of hot rod buffs eager to celebrate the creative genius of Rex Burnett, who had been a long-time Sea Ranch resident and patron of Gualala Arts. In the postwar forties he worked as a technical illustrator in the aircraft industry, when he participated in the birth of the classic Hot Rod magazine and started drawing for the publication.

Complimenting the gallery exhibit will be the 2009 Gualala Arts Auto Show.

Plans are still revving up, but on Friday, July 17 between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. the cars (street and track), motorcycles and who-knows-what will be roaring in for check-in, along with a cocktail party - some celebrating the road trip, locals just celebrating. Some of the vintage cars will probably be trailered in, but others might want to try the old-fashioned way.

On Saturday, July 18, the public is invited to observe, admire and tell their own front seat and maybe even some back seat stories. A barbeque and chili lunch is being planned.

1941 Graham Hollywood

One of the cars competing will be a rare 1941 Graham Hollywood owned and maintained by Ron Dodd of Carmichael, California. The car is powered by a late model Ford V-8 engine, automatic transmission and rear end. It has a custom interior, custom paint and has been re-chromed for a classic look.

Wikipedia, an online information site, fills in the details, "Graham-Paige was an American automobile company organized in 1927 when the three Graham brothers acquired the Paige-Detroit Motor Company. In 1939 Graham agreed to build the Hup Skylark on a contract basis, while receiving the rights to use the distinctive Cord-Skylark dies to produce a similar car of its own, to be called Hollywood. The Hollywood differs from the Cord in that it had a shorter hood and conventional headlights. The Graham Hollywood was released only in 1940 and 1941. Graham began focusing its efforts on defense contracts in 1941 and only 2,214 Hollywoods were ever built."

If you have a car or motorcycle you would like to show and would like to take advantage of the Early bird Registration by May 15, pick up a Registration Form at Gualala Arts or download the 2009 Gualala Arts Auto Show registration form.

Sponsored by:

Lagunitas Brewing Company

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.