TIM PIPE & THE YELLOW ARTMARINE (as told by the man himself) You’ve seen him - probably had your picture taken by him - and kept the polaroid on your mirror for years. The neighbors do not seem to mind the occasional roar and appearance of a giant Twinkie in their neighborhood; some actually rather enjoy it. After all, it is in the name of Art. The vintage looking bus is piloted by a vintage looking bus driver often attired in blue Dickies, a bow tie and Chauffeurs hat. It comes as no surprise that the same character prowls the late-night streets and clubs of Downtown Austin, sporting a fedora and armed with a vintage Polaroid camera. He'll steal your soul and sell it right back to you for $5. "The price of a drink but it lasts a lot longer" Tim quips, often sounding like a James Cagney movie. For a decade, Tim Pipe has been a fixture of the Austin nightlife, primarily working bars like the Casino el Camino, Jackalope, and the Red River district. The tattooed, pierced, mohawk wearing, punk rock and Tom Waits listening weirdoes are his favorite customers, fans, and friends. This is the most polite, generous and fun crowd, he says. Weirdoes indeed. A fine art painter with a BA from Mesa State College, a small school on the west slope of Colorado, Tim also painted scenery for theatre, film, theme parties and conventions for ten years. Papier-mâché was the medium he apprenticed for during one winter in New Orleans. It was in these ten years that he studied photography by
reading books and magazines on the subject. Having had his fill of scenic work, a new brand of employment was necessary. In 1998 Swing was king and the Tech Money Tree was in full bloom (though winter was on the way, as we all know). A new adventure was calling: Hot rod an old Polaroid and take pictures of folks having a great time downtown. Better known as, “creating inebriational silver-based memories.” "I just needed to pay the rent, I never thought I would become a minor league icon," Tim recants. Then along came “the child.” The 35 foot long, 11 1/2 foot high ten ton yellow baby. "It's a mobile art gallery," Tim says, "It's as nice a gallery as you'll see, it just happens to be on wheels. Trimmed in oak and naugahide with Persian rugs under ones feet, he is not kidding. This is where he shows his art photography. Exhibitions are also catered to younger audiences for trips to local schools; a sort of field trip that comes to you. With continued help and support from the Austin Visual Arts Association (Kelly Montgomery, director, is one of his personal heroes) and continued funding through the City of Austin's cultural arts division (cultural contract; a sort of grant), the bus is probably headed for your neighborhood. Next? "More Art." By the way, he used to ride a 1974 Harley Sportster.