Spectacle of Speed show to proceed as planned

Jay Leno will co-design one of the statues.
BY AMANDA GARRETT
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The "Spectacle of Speed" exhibit will go forward as planned this summer, though there have been delays in manufacturing the 6-foot tall statues.
The manufacturer of the fiberglass replicas of Packard automobiles' famous Goddess of Speed hood ornaments got behind in making the statues, said Bobbie Brown, director of the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County.
All of the public dates for the exhibition will remain the same, Brown said.
"The only Spectacle dates that have changed are internal," she noted. "Artists received their statues later than was originally anticipated and therefore we had to change their due-back date, from May 15 to June 11. This in no way affects the public aspects of this project."
The artists originally had from February through May to decorate their statues.
"The Spectacle of Speed" event will open up as originally planned from June 26 to June 30 in downtown Warren, Brown said. All statues will be on display at the Warren Community Amphitheatre during the Ohio Chautauqua event, which will take place outside the Kinsman House.
Then, from July 4 to Sept. 18, the Goddesses will be on display at various locations throughout Trumbull County. A driving tour map will be available to help assist visitors in locating the statues.
Auction fundraiser
The project will conclude Oct. 27 with a live auction at Packard Music Hall to raise funds for the Fine Arts Council, the National Packard Museum, the Trumbull 100 Community Foundation and Trumbull Art Gallery's Summerfest.
The exhibit is modeled after similar projects in other cities, including Youngstown, which displayed penguins, in connection with Youngstown State University; and Cleveland, which displayed guitars.
Several area residents ranging from well-known local artists such as Bill Mullane and Gail Trunick to a group of Liberty High School art students are designing and decorating the statues.
"Tonight Show" host and car collector Jay Leno agreed to design a statue with the help of NBC studio artists, after he learned about the project from the Packard Museum.
Anyone wanting more information on the project should contact the Fine Arts Council at (330) 399-1212 or go on the Web at www.TrumbullArts.org.
agarrett@vindy.com