Goddesses of Speed

A Goddess of Speed designed by ‘Tonight Show’ host Jay Leno will be
auctioned.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — Large replicas of the Goddess of Speed, the famed hood ornament that was part of many Packard cars, will be displayed beginning Tuesday at the Warren Amphitheater.

But this community art project of the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County is a little larger than those that adorned the Packards first manufactured in Warren.

Rather, the fiberglass statues depicting the “winged lady” are about 6 feet high and weigh 150 pounds each.

“We always thought about public art,” said Bobbie Brown, FACT director.

Brown explained that she took the idea of the goddess to Trumbull 100, a group that supports community projects.

The group decided to support the display with a $40,000 contribution as seed money.

“I proposed the goddess. The goddess just stood out,” she said, noting that the 1937 hood ornament was selected from among the rest.

A popular idea

Brown explained that the initial goal was to have 30 of the goddesses manufactured, decorated by local artists with differing themes, and auctioned off to raise money for charities.

As it turned out, local businesses opened their wallets to the idea and paid $3,000 each to sponsor what turned out to be 35 of them.

The blank castings were made by American Fiberglass Animals in Shelton, Neb., for $1,000 each. They are made of 13 separate castings.

Artists from Mahoning and Trumbull counties painted them. The artists were paid $1,500 each for their work. This leaves $500 each for marketing.

Brown said 10 goddesses have been pre-sold for $6,000 each so they can remain in the community.

“I’m sort of surprised by the number of people who want to buy them,” Brown said, calling attention to car buffs, local history buffs and community-minded people who wanted them.

“There was a huge fear they would be sold to collectors,” Brown said, noting they wouldn’t be available for local people to view.

On display before auction

The 35 goddesses will be on display through Saturday on the amphitheater’s seating area. They’ve been clear coated to protect them from the weather, and so visitors can touch them.

Beginning July 4, the 35 goddesses will be on display throughout the county so they can be viewed where visitors often stop, such as at Octagon House in Kinsman and National Packard Museum in Warren.

A map of the locations can be seen at trumbullarts.org.

On Oct. 27, 26 goddesses will be auctioned at the W.D. Packard Music Hall, in addition to one being designed by “Tonight Show” host and noted car collector Jay Leno. Leno owns five Packards.

Brown doesn’t know how much the Leno piece will bring, but she anticipates the others will sell for an average of $7,500 each.

Proceeds from the auction will go to repay Trumbull 100 for its original investment along with the Packard museum, Trumbull Art Gallery and FACT.

Mixing art and produce

While the goddesses were being prepared for display, they have been housed in a Warren market along West Market Street across from Courthouse Square with a new twist.

“It brings local artists and local produce together,” said Holly Taylor, owner of the Warren Produce and Artists Market.

The market opened May 12 and will be open Saturdays.

“I’m trying to make a difference in downtown Warren,” Taylor said of her new venture. “I love this city and I love this building.”

The building housed Kresge’s department store when the building was constructed in 1915. It was occupied by the Army-Navy Store until 2003.

“We’re here to create a Saturday community experience,” Taylor said, noting the market is featuring strawberries picked Saturday mornings.

As more local produce comes into season, it too will be sold along with the works of the artistic community.