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Rust Belt Revival show melds antique cars and local artwork
By SARAH LEHR
YOUNGSTOWN
For Katelyn Bowden of Youngstown’s North side, Sunday’s Rust Belt Revival show had a nostalgic feel that brought to mind car shows of old at the former A&W restaurant in Boardman.
Bowden was one of more than 700 people to turn out Sunday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the B&0 Station at 530 Mahoning Ave. for a show sponsored by Artists of the Rust Belt and the Roadhounds Car Club.
The show featured antique cars as well as local artwork.
That melding of attractions made the show distinctive, according to Tony Nicholas, executive director of Artists of the Rust Belt. “You have two different types of culture,” he said. “It’s something that all types of people can enjoy.”
Nicholas himself is an artist who specializes in photographs of cars. He created Artists of the Rust Belt to showcase the Valley’s talent and hopes that the Rust Belt Revival car show will similarly shine a light on the area. This year was the third Rust Belt Revival show.
“It’s a golden opportunity to show people that there are good things happening in Youngstown,” he said. “We want to get rid of old stereotypes and show that the city really is changing.”
About 200 cars registered for the event, Nicholas said. To register, a car had to be a pre-1972 model. Drivers came from as far away as Akron, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
The Muleface Brothers Band played rockabilly music and vendors, including the Waffle Truck and the Alternative Food Wagon, offered food.
Tony Batista was one of many people to set up a booth at the show. Batista sold a hodgepodge of items, including records, antique car parts and collectible Hot Wheels toys. For Batista, the festival offered the perfect blend of old and new. “You get to experience the memories of the old-school days and at the same time you get to see the creativity of the younger generation,” he said.