Cadillac Ranch

Cadillac Ranch is the name of an art installation in Potter County, about five kilometers west of Amarillo, Texas.

Formation

1974 ( Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels ) were members of the art group Ant Farm from San Francisco, buried west of Amarillo ten Cadillacs in a line and at the same angle with the front half of the bottom of a corn field. They date from the years 1948 to 1963 and represent the beginning and the decline of the tail fin models of the 1950s. The angle in which the vehicles are buried, should correspond to the slope angle of the pyramids of Giza. They symbolize the freedom that brought the car with him and also the fascination and attraction that emanates from the "roadside attractions " ( roadside attractions ) along the American highways. The site is located directly on historic Route 66, which is now replaced at this point of Interstate 40.

Was sponsored by the Cadillac Ranch by the helium millionaire Stanley Marsh III and patron. , The presented group of artists the land adjacent to Interstate 40. Stanley Marsh thinks the Cadillac Ranch symbolizing " the great escape, freedom of choice, the ability to easily escape. "

Living work of art

The cars are painted over with graffiti and constantly change their look. Visitors are explicitly encouraged to leave their own color traces. From time to time the cars are painted over. So initially they were all white, but were already in pink, blue or black painted (on the occasion of the death of Doug Michels ). The overpainting but were regularly less than 24 hours before re- emerged new graffiti.

Transfer

In 1997, the Cadillac Ranch was by a local construction company from the original cornfield about 2 miles (3 km ) west direction laid on a pasture, in order to further install away from the boundaries of the growing city of Amarillo. The new site is located on private property by Stanley Marsh III. , Which may be accessed by visitors at any time.

The Cadillac Ranch as part of the U.S. and German pop culture

• The Cadillac Ranch is also found in the Walt Disney and Pixar movie Cars, which refers in numerous allusions to places on the old Route 66.

• The Cadillac Ranch was already visible in various commercials and music videos.