I imagine an artists car to look like a vintage VW van filled to the brim with hoarded supplies and junk or a painted car with magnets and stickers all over. But, for me it was a little Kia Rio and then a sturdy Nissan Altima. As an artist, I relied on my car as a tool that I could also write off on my taxes including miles, gas, and repairs. But, my Kia was a documented lemon that broke often. After the loan was paid off, I used my Kia as a tool once again and took out a loan against the car after COVID-19 because I didn’t get any relief loans or grants for my art biz. I used that money to undertake a month long residency at Touchstone Center for Arts and drove my car from Texas to Pennsylvania, and then to Tulsa where I planned on settling. It was repossessed by the loan company on a technical error and badly damaged during the tow. I worked with the insurance company and the loan company to repair my car and have it returned to me.

But, the Kia Rio was a lemon from the start and continued to have problems. So, I sold it online to a dealer capable of handling it, and bought a Nissan Altima. It was a sturdy vehicle and could make long trips or hold huge amounts of cargo for my new art studio in Tulsa. But, my time in Tulsa was a sinking ship. I was fired from an art center because I confronted my boss for being a fraud and sexually harassing me. The art center went out of business six months later and I was mutually leaving my Tulsa art studio where the owners were slum-lording, so I signed a settlement contract which the slum-lord breached. In the midst of moving back to Texas, I was hit by an uninsured van and my Nissan was considered a ‘total loss’ and the air bag saved my life, but broke my glasses against my face. Because I was abruptly fired, my insurance had lapsed by just a few days when the accident happened. I was immediately taken to the ER for neck and shoulder injury and the next day I was on a train to Oklahoma City, then a midnight Lyft to Tulsa, to finish moving out of my art studio. I could barely move about and I was wearing script sunglasses because I am legally blind without corrective lenses. It was a very painful experience physically and mentally.

I applied to various charities for a donated car and never heard back. I am still rebuilding my life, but this time I’m reframing it without a car. I always believed that a car was an essential tool for an artist; hauling supplies, inventory, and artwork seems impossible without a vehicle! I also worry about my safety and privacy while traveling. I’m now researching and restructuring my art journey to maximize all that I CAN do (safely) without a car as a busy artist. I’ve already saved money and eliminated so much stress by not having the burden of a car. It’s a new frontier!

Have a Pleasant Day!
-Rae