For a first-time-ever exhibit, a motorcycle will be inside an area art gallery.
The work of “Master Pinstriper Casey Kennell” will be on display Aug. 14 through Sept. 14 at the Philip Dressler Center for the Arts, 214 S. Harrison Ave., Somerset.
Kennell, owner of The Paint Chop on West Main Street in Somerset, has been pinstriping and lettering anything with wheels for 40 years.
Examples of his work, including the Gold Digger motorcycle that has been featured in national magazines, will be on display inside the gallery.
“We have high expectations for this exhibit,” said Mike Oliver, Laurel Arts executive director.
“We’re going out of the box. This is something we’ve never done before. He pinstripes everything from ladies shoes to 18-wheelers. This will be a nontypical gallery opening, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Kennell’s years of artwork will fill the three rooms of the first-floor gallery.
Kennell has done hand-painted, airbrushed custom panels that have been sold to celebrities for charity at national custom car shows.
About 50 of the panels that were not for sale to charity will be featured in the exhibit.
Kennell also painted the motorcycle used in “Machine Gun Preacher” as well as a personal bike for the movie’s star, Gerard Butler.
“It’s been a heck of a ride,” Kennell said.
When asked how he got started detailing cars, motorcycles and trucks, Kennell simply said it was what he grew up with.
He remembers his first artwork painted on a T-shirt in 1965.
“I’m all self-taught,” Kennell said. “I used to read all the magazines. I got my dad to buy them. I couldn’t get enough of that stuff.”
Kennell also remembers his high school art teacher telling him he didn’t know what Kennell would do with his weird art.
“I’ve loved this all my life,” Kennell said. “I want to make people happy. It’s about the art.”
The artwork will move outside when more examples of Kennell’s work roll in for the Casey Kennell Kulture & Art Show, an open house and car cruise which will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 18.
There will be hot rods, motorcycles, trucks and race cars, most of them detailed by Kennell.
One of the featured cars will be a 1934 three-window Chevy coupe that Kennell pinstriped in 1974.
“I paint on odd stuff no one else does,” he said.
Signs and custom paint jobs Kennell has done also will be displayed outside.
Other vehicles on display featuring Kennell’s work will be a 1929 roadster, 1939 Ford convertible, the Jan Opperman sprint car and ZZ Top tribute car.
“This stuff is smokin’ hot right now,” Kennell said.
Special guests will be Mike Abraham from Valparaiso, Ind., a former painter for the John Force race team; Jim Senkewitz, drag way announcer for the former Pittsburgh International Drag way; and Mike Szuba from Jalopyrama Hot Rod Shows in Annapolis, Md.
“I want all my buddies to come,” Kennell said. “They’re my inspiration for this art.”
Refreshments will be served, and The Runaways will provide vintage musical entertainment.
Door prizes will include a $250 pinstripe job giveaway.
On Aug. 19, a diner car cruise will be held at 2 p.m. at Summit Diner, 791 N. Center Ave., Somerset.
“I have some artwork on the walls in the dining room,” Kennell said. “It’s all of old cars, Betty Boop and Elvis.”
Information: www.thepaintchop.com.
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