Nature Takes the Wheel: A Public Art Project with Upcycled Hubcaps

Hubcaps on view Now through October 31, 2020!

Nature Takes the Wheel is a public art installation featuring more than 55 hubcaps on display at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden and the Wildling Museum through October 31, 2020.

The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce its first public art initiative, Nature Takes the Wheel: A Public Art Project with Upcycled Hubcaps!

The project was grant-funded by the City of Buellton Arts and Culture Committee, which supported a team of artists headed by art therapist Stacey Thompson to work with community members to paint and embellish used wheel covers, otherwise known as hubcaps, into upcycled nature-inspired artworks. The team collected hubcaps and art supplies, prepping the wheel covers for participants. After the artworks were turned into the Wildling for display, finished hubcaps were varnished and installed throughout the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden and the Wildling Museum’s windows.

Nature Takes the Wheel features more than 55 hubcaps upcycled by Santa Barbara County residents age 3 - 90+! We hope you’ll stop by to visit these remarkable works of public art by our community! Hubcaps are on view now through October 31, 2020 at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden and on display in the Wildling Museum’s windows.

Special thanks to the City of Buellton, Stacey Thompson, Kiana Beckmen, Carolyn Dorwin, and the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden for their support of this public art project.