Some local art students took on a monster challenge this week, using an old car scheduled to be smashed during a monster truck show at WesBanco Arena this weekend as their canvas.
Wheeling Central Catholic High School art teacher Ann Kahle said she recently received an email from a Monster Jam Thunder Nationals representative asking if the students in her art class would be interested in painting one of the old cars used during the Monster Jam show. Monster trucks jump over and smash up old cars placed in a long row on the arena floor.
"I thought it sounded like a fun project," said Kahle.
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Photo by Scott McCloskey
Wheeling Central Catholic High School Studio Art II students paint an old car scheduled to be smashed during the Monster Jam Thunder Nationals at WesBanco Arena this weekend.
After receiving approval from Wheeling Central Principal Julie Shively, Kahle arranged for Monster Jam representatives to have the car delivered to the school this week.
The vehicle was placed between the high school and the old Wheeling Catholic Elementary building. Monster Jam is covering the cost of having the car delivered to the school and then to the arena. It also will provide free tickets to the Saturday evening show for all the students involved in the art project.
"We had just finished a section on painting techniques. ... This just fit right in with the styles that we just learned about," Kahle added.
She noted all the students are excited about the art project because it is such a unique opportunity. Some of the students in the class said they were enjoying the unusual challenge while painting the car in bright colors.
"It's an unorthodox twist on art," one student said.
Laura Lawler, senior account executive with Monster Jam Thunder Nationals, said organizers thought it would be a good idea to offer the challenge to a local high school art class. She said the car they are painting will be used in the Saturday evening show.
Lawler said the driver of the monster truck "Batman," Norman Miller, is scheduled to visit Central's art class Friday morning. She said this is the first time the truck "Batman" has ever appeared in Wheeling.
Showtimes for Monster Jam this weekend are: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday.
