Automotive Art

Opening Reception: Friday, June 1 at 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit remains through July 29, 2012
Gualala Arts Center

The 2012 Automotive Art exhibit begins with the opening reception Friday, June 1 at 5:00 p.m. and is displayed through to July 29, 2012 at the Gualala Arts Center in the Elaine Jacob Foyer. It will feature special designer and artisan Kent Fuller, a veteran pioneer in the world of drag racing and hot rods.

Fuller will present two examples of his craft: his original cult classic 1962 Volksrod roadster and his latest hand-formed 25-foot long Fuller Streamliner - a work in progress eventually slated to travel at least 300 miles per hour.

Early on, at the age of 12, Fuller demonstrated his automotive engineering talent by designing a first-place winning soapbox racer, "Sunkist Special." While building this wooden vehicle in his father's citrus packing house, Fuller paid special attention to the front-end wheel alignment, making sure the car would travel in a straight line when coasting on its own, unassisted by a driver. According to Fuller, this was the advantage that won the race for his car.

Since 1956, Fuller has built many dragsters, funny cars and other special cars for some important names in hot rod history. He is responsible for installing the first rollbar on a front-engine dragster, a critical safety feature which became the standard for all subsequent dragsters.

Fuller's 1962 Volksrod consists of a 1923 model-T Ford truck body originally equipped with a Volkswagen rear end and powered by a Porsche Carrera engine - now replaced by a Porsche 356 engine. Right after its completion, his Volksrod was featured on the cover of Rod & Custom Magazine. Fuller built more of these Volksrods as did a small loyal following of imitators. He is dubbed "The True Father of The Volksrod" by Volksrods.com.

Also featured in the Automotive 2012 Art Exhibit are a collection of nostalgic and historic photographs showing highlights of Kent Fuller's noteworthy career.

In 1992 Kent Fuller was inducted into the Oakland Roadster Show Hall of Fame and later inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

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.