The Concept

The Long and Winding Road began on the 17 May 2004 when drive artist Michael Pinchbeck embarked on a journey in a graffiti covered car from Nottingham to Liverpool. The car was painted by graffiti artist Rikki Marr in a field in Derbyshire. The car was packed with 350 mementoes wrapped up in brown paper and string. The painting, the packing and the driving of the car was filmed by Kevin Edwards.

Each item was given a registration number – like a car – e.g. R350 ACH – R – 1998 – the year the project was accidentally conceived, 350th to be packed and ACH – A Car History – CH also being the DVLA suffix for a car registered in and around Nottingham and Derby. The project will last until 17 May 2008 when the car will reach its final resting place in the river Mersey.

The mementoes in the car are items that belonged to the artist's brother who died in an accident in 1998. Michael travelled to Liverpool where his brother had been a student, to pack a car with his things. The Long and Winding Road is a memorial by the artist to his brother. It is Michael's intention to exhibit the project in galleries and garages between Nottingham and Liverpool.

The objects will spill from the boot. Log books, photo albums and maps of the journey so far will litter the dashboard. Audience members will be invited, three at a time, to join the artist in the car for a personal car history. The artist will offer passengers a travel sweet before introducing a film of The Long and Winding Road and sharing the reason for the journey. Passengers will be invited to join the project steering committee.

Join us on the journey of a drivetime - email info@blurbgarden.com