Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit that helps build affordable houses in San Juan County. Their new fundraiser, Cars & Canvases Art Show in Downtown Farmington, will help fund their 12th house. By Donna K. Hewett. Sponsored by Farmington Play Day Trampoline Park and Ace Hardware of Farmington
Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity introduced its first ever art and car show in downtown Farmington to help fund their efforts to house low-income families in San Juan County. You're watching the Local News Network brought to you by Farmington Play Day Trampoline Park and Farmington ACE Hardware. I'm Wendy Graham Settle. Anyone can buy a car, but not everyone can build a custom low rider.
It's a 1947 Oldsmobile, series 78 deluxe. Super, super rare, really hard to find. You normally don't see them anywhere, so parts are hard to come by. So everything, a lot of stuff's actually custom done. Motor swap, transmission swap, rear end swap, it's on air ride.
The artwork on the cars reflects the owners' ideas and visions come to fruition. Vigil hires artists from around the Four Corners and from Phoenix, Arizona. His tattoo buddy here in Farmington painted the mural.
Gold plating's done at a bunch of different places. So it's just a,
What's the inspiration here?
It's a Pancho Villa theme. So the car, being old the way it is, yeah, I named it "Señora Thros." Basically stands for like old, mischievous, maquiao, kind of like, you know, bad boy.
Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity's former fundraiser was a prime rib dinner for around 200 people. With the COVID virus still headlining the news, the nonprofit decided on an outdoor event this year. According to board member Danny Andrews, the 150 spaces available for the Cars and Canvases Art Show all sold out. Canvases included painted rocks, wooden boxes, and stuffed animals repurposed as hand puppets.
A few years ago, I wanted to make more puppets because I like to do ventriloquism. Like this, see? His lips don't move.
Nearly 100 makes and models of cars, trucks, and motorcycles lined a portion of Main Street. A 1951 Chevy flatbed parked by itself caught our attention. Owner Derick McGaha has been working on it for only three years.
Oh, I love driving it around town as much as I can. I don't, I probably get maybe eight miles to the gallon, but she gets me around.
Remaking old cars is in his blood. McGaha's '51 Chevy is one of four cars he putters with.
I've got another '52 Chevy that I'm trying to rebuild and I've got an 80s Five Mustang convertible I want to try to rebuild. It's just a part-time thing I like to do, so.
What got you started?
Ah, shoot, my dad, I guess. He's always had old cars and he's always building stuff himself, so.
Board member Andrews said the car show was an interesting project, but the goal first and foremost is always to raise money for Habitat. With the success of its first car and art show. Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity will start building its 12th house for a low-income San Juan County family. To volunteer or to donate, go to tresrioshabitat.com. Thanks for watching this edition of the Local News Network. I'm Wendy Graham Settle.
