May 11 - August 21, 2021
The Bascom, in collaboration with the Highlands Motoring Festival Foundation, presents FreeWheeling which is a centerpiece component of
CELEBRATE ART + AUTOMOBILE, a summer series of events in Highlands, NC.
FreeWheeling features original automotive works of internationally renowned artists. The exhibition will be on display in the Bascom's main gallery in Highlands, NC, and include works on canvas, paper, and sculpture, alongside the display of 3 classic and vintage automobiles. The exhibit’s cars will be changed twice during the duration of the 15 week display such that up to 9 cars in total will share gallery space with the artwork.
The exhibition presents a multi-tiered experience in the appreciation of art and the automobile. It examines design as art, the inherent duality of functional art, the allure of the automobile as art itself inspiring expression in another art-form, and the dialogue between inspiration and expression.
Throughout the exhibition period, the Bascom will be offering a number of related displays and activities, some of which are interactive. A few examples of these include Artist/Curator Discussions, Submitted Automobile Photography Presentation, Model Car Display, and Educational S.T.E.A.M. Initiatives. Other public programming will be announced as it is developed.
On Saturday, June 12th, the fourteenth annual Highlands Motoring Festival features Cars in the Park, a juried display of approximately 100 specially selected automobiles from around the world, representing a diversity of styles and concepts from the earliest days of the automobile through 1989. The theme for 2021 is Pure Bloods d’Italia, featuring grand marques such as Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini. Additional classics expected on the show field include Porsche, Jaguar, BMW, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Packard, and others.
Other activities of the Motoring Festival include One Lap of the Mountains (two days of drives on the exciting mountain roads of Western North Carolina), evening social events, presentations and discussions by renowned automotive experts, and High Octane, a casual car show open to any interesting automobile.
Highlands, NC, the venue for all these exhibits and activities, has been a special summer getaway for nearly 150 years. At 4118’ elevation, it is a temperate respite from the surrounding southern heat and humidity. The town itself is filled with boutique shopping, fine dining, and a wide variety of excellent lodging; and is surrounded by a wealth of magnificent outdoor scenery and activities for the entire family.
For more information, contact:
“You cannot describe passion, you can only live it.” - Enzo Ferrari
FreeWheeling gallery schematic
