At 8 a.m. on July 4, Ann Widmann coasted down main street in Old Bisbee from Castle Rock to Grassy Park, along with about 14 art cars in the first Bisbee Rollin' Arts Transport Society parade.  Pictured below is a photo montage she made of the construction and debut of The Bisbee Observer Camera Car as well as a column she wrote prior the event. It ran in the July 2, 2009 edition of the The Bisbee Observer on page 10. Additional art cars follow below.  (All art cars on parade were photographed by Laura Swan.)

Because I still can

(This article originally ran in the July 2, 2009 edition of The Bisbee Observer.)

By Ann Widmann
The Bisbee Observer

 I‘m going down Tombstone Canyon this Fourth of July in an art car shaped like a very large camera primarily because I still can. That’s one of the good things that come from knowing you have a chronic disease like Parkinson’s – at least for me. I’m much more ready to enjoy things – simple and momentous.

As soon as I heard about Poe Dismuke’s and Andrew Nelson’s Art Cars I knew I wanted to join in. And if anybody’s a brat, that’s me. Just ask my husband, Tony, or any one of my four brothers. And now or soon, I will be one of the BRATS, that is, a member of Bisbee’s Rollin’ Art Transport Society.  

Although he’s grumbling a lot at this point, I think Tony most likely will finish building the car. Actually, I am amazed he took it on since it was so much work for something he really hadn’t the least desire in doing. In fact, I’m sure he really can’t fathom why I feel it suits me and I know I owe him big. He gave up a lot of his summer for me.

I owe Laura Swan, The Bisbee Observer’s publisher and editor big time, too. Not only did she come through as my major sponsor for this lark in tough economic times, she has been there for me so many times since I hired on at The Observer nearly two years ago.

Laura runs a very tight ship, which I’m sure is a major factor in the paper being financially successful. But she is primarily behind the scenes and does it all – sells the ads, lays out the paper, takes really good pictures and even writes her share of stories when needed.

I’ve said many times during my 20-plus years in journalism that everyone should try putting out a
 

A cottage on wheels rolls down Tombstone Canyon.

Poe Desmuke's  rocket car was a cigar if you viewed its left side.

newspaper just once. Then they’d see how unique a beast it is and certainly be more sympathetic when a typo appears.

Laura also gives tremendous behind the scenes support to many organizations and events around town. As do so many of you. Back to my camera car, that’s why Bisbee Chiropractic Center, BizzArt Gallery, Dr. Feelgood’s Hair Salon & Spa and Warm Hands Therapeutic are all listed on the side of the car.  They all jumped in as donors without hesitation.

When pondering what shape my art car should assume, Melissa Holden chimed in – “make it a camera car,” which certainly does fit. That’s one of my favorite things about Bisbee. You can be and do pretty much what you want.

Because of the Parkinson’s, I won’t be able to sit through the parade but a good friend, Doug Hoffman, has agreed to do the honors as well as click images of me as I roll down main street at 8 a.m. July 4.

Another new event this year, which I hope becomes an annual one, is the Bisbee Boys & Girls Club Art Show, which opened at BizzArt Gallery on July 2 from 4-7 p.m. It was really amazing what 20 youngsters with throw-away cameras found to photograph as they wandered down Arizona Street.

Thanks go to Liz Hampton, Joseph Klinger and Larry Elkins for helping me with this project; to my fellow member artists at BizzArt for throwing their support behind a children’s show; and to both the Bisbee Arts Commission and The Bisbee Foundation for funding this endeavor. (The Boys & Girls Club show was on display at BizzArt Gallery, 41 Brewery Ave., July 2-16. )

This BRAT trio rode neck and neck.

Nancy Jacobsen, Bisbee Chamber director, drove a cash register.