Last week, I picked up my daughter from Denver International Airport. While I waited for her in the tented and skylighted terminal, I noticed a brightly colored 1990 Volkswagen Beetle. At first, I thought it had been artistically painted, but the gathering crowd took countless photos, so I took a closer look. I couldn’t believe what I saw!
Over 2,247,000 glass beads woven with colored yarn covered the entire vehicle including the dashboard and steering wheel. The Vochol was created by two families from the Huichol tribe of Western Mexico. It took 7 months and almost 10 thousand hours to complete. They are known for their traditional and sometimes intricate yarn paintings, but the use of beads is a new inclusion in this art form. Religious and cultural icons such as the deer, sun, corn and peyote can be found on this unusual “canvas.” They created this piece to share their beliefs and culture with the world.
The Vochol is a mash-up of the slang word for Volkswagen –Vocho and the Huichol.
Herbie would fall in love at first sight!
I imagined the looks Courtney and I would get if we rolled out of DIA in this slug-bug!
The Vochol will be auctioned off and proceeds will benefit artisans of Mexico.
I think the new owner will avoid mud puddles and buggy areas.
After the horrific events that took place in Aurora, Colorado last Friday, I looked over the photos I had taken the day before and thought, “The Vochol is a symbol of hope.” People from all over the world fly through Denver each day and enjoy The Vochol just as the world is coming together in prayer and mourning. This work of art shows the resiliency of a Mexican indigenous group which has survived and so will we.
The Vochol will be on display at DIA until August 31st, 2012.
Related articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huichol_people
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20676617/hand-beaded-vw-beetle-rolls-into-denver-airport
Do you enjoy traveling? Have you gone to any fun places this summer?
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
Amazing..how i wish I too had some talent like that…i know one can’t have everything but that is superb…what a gift to be so hugely talented
Susie what a lovely post
beauty that car
Hugs n love in:)
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I did not see one flaw or missed stitch. It really is incredible.
Thanks! Love and hugs to you Soma!
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So true, and so awesome! Hope, lots of hope, Susan, because hope is everything. I lost hope once, and it near ripped me into a million shards.
To all of you there and who deal with the unimaginable. *hugs*
And thank you for sharing this.
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Thanks Nelle! So true that hope is everything. I am hoping everyone has a much happier week!
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The symmetry, the colors! Beautiful work indeed. Great catch, Susie!
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I almost didn’t check it out and I am glad I did. Courtney and I actually missed each other. She walked out to the car and then called me! Good thing!
Have a great day John!
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this was awesome… what great craftsmanship and artistic vision. Thank you for posting!
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It is amazing and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to see it. Thanks for reading!
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Amazing piece of work on a beloved auto. I am on vacation for 8 weeks so if I miss anything I apologize.
HUGGGGGGGGGG
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It is really cool Linda. Have a great trip back to Canada!
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pretty amazing – thank you for sharing. It is definitely more uplifting! I drove a Beetle in high school and in college before getting my brand new car…. at the time I did not appreciate it, but I remember driving it in the summer with NO AC – just the side window tilted inward to create a funnel effect… it got great gas mileage, though I yearned for a ‘cooler’ car in more ways than one… I’ve given up on being cool, it’s just too hard to accomplish! I’ll be just as well satisfied making the days count….
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You have your priorities straight Clay! My husband had VW’s back in the day and when they conked out, he would buy another for $50 and drop in a new engine! I knew his family while growing up and they had a super cool VW convertible!
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As a self-professed (and not-at-all-interested in an intervention) beadaholic I swooned…Incredible. A testament to artistry, devotion, resiliency and talent.
Makess my work (http://k8edid.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/dont-worry-bead-happy/) and (http://k8edid.wordpress.com/2011/10/30/make-this-scary-beaded-spider-for-halloween/) seem pretty lame…
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Wonderful post and images, it brought back many memories! Back in 1973 I had a candy apple red, 1971 Beetle, always loved the the gas savings. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you Wendell! Candy apple red?? Wow! Slug bugs are the best.
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Wow, Susie ~ I’m impressed. Intricate designs with saturated color and wonderful symmetry. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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It really is a delight and in the natural lighting of the atrium, it really “pops” with color!
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I hope you will enter the auction.. I couldn’t imagine a better and more appropriate vehicle for Susie’s “Wild Ride” 😀
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Hahaha! You are right! Thanks so much Barbara.
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Reblogged this on OyiaBrown.
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That’s some amazing work, thanks for sharing it!
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It was perfectly woven and tightly stitched. The color alone was brilliant!
Thanks for stopping by!
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I wonder if that’s the same one that (was?) here in DC at the National Museum of the American Indian. I wanted to go see it but didn’t make it. Your pictures of it made my day.
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Oh I am so glad! In one of the articles I read something about it being at the Smithsonian.
Thanks Hippie!
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As one of my favorite bloggers, you’re invited to take part in my new contest: http://prawnandquartered.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/let-the-games-begin-our-best-contest-yet/
May the odds be ever in your favor!
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Wow! I hit the blogging jackpot! I will be right over…Thanks Heather!
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Nice. I missed it when I was at DIA in June/July. Time makes everything better , I think. Oh wait I spoke too soon, our bodies fight time or maybe it’s just our minds. I must catch the news about the tragedy. I saw pics on the net of the victims and we all were very sad. Thanks for all your posts… Definitely look forward to them with the upbeat charm you show.
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Awww! I needed to transition back to my 300 sunny days in Colorado. The Love Bug was just the thing!
I am keeping the news off. I know what you mean about time. It does heal us.
Thanks so much for that sweet sweet comment Lilie!
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Great message Susie–and as always love the photos! 🙂
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Thanks for reading Coleen! I am trying to only use my own photos… 🙂
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Can you imagine if you parked it somewhere it got run into? A fender-bender would reduce you to hysterics.
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Hahahaha! I hadn’t thought of that! I would have to build a giant glass bulletproof box that could get dropped over it like a special edition replica. Guess that wouldn’t work. Then I would need some kind of cloaking device and park it illegally where it wouldn’t get run into…. hmmm….I will have to think about this….
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This is so cool! Thanks for sharing, Susie.
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If you get reeeeeeeeally bored, you could take a little trip out to DIA to see it! Hahaha! Thanks!
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Wow! Love this. Amazing talent.
Thanks for sharing, Susie.
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They are incredibly talented people. Thanks for reading CC!
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Out freaking standing. the bug is a masterpiece. You’ve got a good eye and taste beyond belief to post the pics and enlighten those of us who sometimes have a small fog bank around our heads,
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Thanks so much Tom! That is so nice.
It is a masterpiece! I didn’t know anything about the Huichol so their idea to share their culture with the world is a success! Don’t worry, I have a small fog bank around my head once in a while too! 🙂
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What an adorable car. Thank you for reminding us that even in the midst of tragedy, there is always hope.
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And we are reminded of hope every day, if we take the time to look around our beautiful world.
I wonder if VW will produce a car with a similar paint job? I would hate to scratch it!
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Makes me wanna be a car person! LOL Totally sweet, Susie. And fabulous use of your own pics! 😉
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Thanks August! I loved my first car. It was a red Datsun 4 door. I would tell guys it was my little red Corvette. You should have seen their eyes! I would have to correct them after they would get all excited. Their shoulders would sink and they’d said, “Ohhhh….” Hahaha!
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Gorgeous ride. Incredible the time they put into it!
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It is a beautiful symbol of it. That is awesome!
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It really is! I have never seen such a huge weaving project. Thanks Angela!
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LOVE it!
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Me too! I want one! Hahaha!
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