Oct 14, 2016

Photos and text by Kim Hairston

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford stands in the doorway of his Hyattsville home he has named “As-sem-blage Co-ttage,” pronounced in rhyming French. Bedford creates sculptural art made from found materials on his cars and in and around his home. The retired art conservator at the Hirshhorn Museum uses materials that weather well and increase in interest over time. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: A. Clarke Bedford art extends to the fence around his front yard . (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford, creates art made from found materials that he uses to adorn his cars and home. Bedford says “The cars are part of the house the house is part of the cars. You can rearrange the cars to change the composition of the house.” (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: A skull is affixed to the Volvo wagon art car, Demise, created by A. Clarke Bedford. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Vanadu, A. Clarke Bedford’s Ford Econoline van, is parked outside his home. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford checks one of his art cars parked across the street from his home. Bedford, a retired art conservator at the Hirshhorn Museum, says he has always been interested in antiques and has incorporated images of the late 19th early 20th century into his work. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Rusting metal on the roof of Demise, one of Artist A. Clarke Bedford’s art cars. Bedford says the assemblage is “a curious desire and compulsion, but it’s something I think is very nourishing.” He says he has always been interested in antiques and his incorporated images of the late 19th early 20th century into his work. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Demise is the vanity plate on A. Clarke Bedford’s Volvo wagon. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford found a German language globe to fit into the narrative of his Volkswagen art car. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford creates sculptural art made from found materials which he displays around his house. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford, creates art made from found materials that he uses to adorn his cars and home. Bedford says “The cars are part of the house the house is part of the cars. You can rearrange the cars to change the composition of the house.” (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford creates sculptures on and around his Hyattsville home from found objects. The retired art conservator at the Hirshhorn Museum, says the assemblage is “a curious desire and compulsion, but it’s something I think is very nourishing.” (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Vanadu is A. Clarke Bedford’s well-know Ford Econoline van. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Pieces of glass, figures, and other objects hang from chain link fencing attached to a gable outside Artist A. Clarke Bedford’s home he has named “As-sem-blage Co-ttage, ” pronounced in rhyming French. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: “Rust Never Sleeps” and “Rustbelt Voyager” are phrases on the roof of Demise, one of A. Clarke Bedford’s art cars. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Detail of objects on hood of Subwagn, one of A. Clarke Bedford’s art cars. Bedford, a retired art conservator at the Hirshhorn Museum, says the assemblage is “a curious desire and compulsion, but it’s something I think is very nourishing.” He says he has always been interested in antiques and his incorporated images of the late 19th early 20th century into his work. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: A statue of John Locke is mounted on the hood of Vanadu, A. Clarke Bedford’s well-know Ford Econoline van. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: A. Clarke Bedford’s Subwagn art car is seen outside his Hyattsville home. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford stands in the doorway of his “As-sem-blage Co-ttage.” (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford’s Hyattsville home is a series of assemblages. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Demise, one of A. Clarke Bedford’s four art cars is seen outside his Nicholson Street home. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Artist A. Clarke Bedford, creates art made from found materials that he uses to adorn his cars and home. Bedford says “The cars are part of the house the house is part of the cars. You can rearrange the cars to change the composition of the house.” He notes, when one of the vehicles is gone, you know something is missing. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

Perhaps you’ve seen A. Clarke Bedford’s art cars. He used to commute to his job as a conservator at the Hirshhorn Museum in one of his elaborately decorated autos. Bedford has taken part in shows like Artscape and has driven in parades. The four art cars parked outside his Nicholson Street home are his transportation.

Bedford’s home, “As-sem-blage Co-ttage,” pronounced in rhyming “French,” and yard, “Vanadu Gardens,” like his cars, are covered with layers of found objects laden with meaning. He has designed them to be seen in relation to each other. If you get the chance to go by, you will be able to appreciate his commitment to public art from the sidewalk outside and across from his home.

Arthouse/Artcars: The assemblages of artist A. Clarke Bedford

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