Conrad Jay Bladey

VOA’s Craig Fitzpatrick rode along to see just what drives this artist. His story is narrated by Ted Landphair.

CONRAD PLAYING - Tin whistle

Conrad Bladey relaxes with a whistle

Conrad Jay Bladey is a high school history teacher and although he’s not Irish he teaches Irish culture at this community college.

CONRAD JAY BLADEY
“And if St. Patrick’s Day falls on Palm Sunday...”

He has written numerous books on Irish wakes, weddings and Irish handicraft. Conrad has also worked as an archeologist and dabbled in anthropology and architecture. He’s a man of many interests, who likes playing the tin whistle to relax.

Irish book by Conrad Bladey

CONRAD PLAYING - Horn hat blowing

But when he really wants to wake up the world, he plays one of his more outrageous inventions, the horn hat. Since Conrad makes horn hats, he calls himself a horn hatter.

Horn hatter!

CONRAD PLAYING - Horn hat blowing

He also calls himself a visionary artist, an artist whose canvas is the slightly used American car. His art is sometimes on display here at his house in suburban Maryland and sometimes it’s not, for unlike conventional art, this art is drive-able. Conrad says music and art are a big part of his life, part of his being.

These art cars are mobile too!

CONRAD JAY BLADEY
“Currently I have four art cars, and I would never drive anything that was plain, because I have learned the joy of driving an art car. People connect to it. When they see the art car they are amazed and their face lightens up and they smile and they say, 'Hi,' and you connect; you’re part of humanity.”

Conrad has painted and decorated his cars in a wide range of styles. He calls this car his party car, because someone once said, “It looks like a party driving by.”

Party car!

CONRAD PLAYING - Horn hat blowing

Conrad’s drippings remind many of a Jackson Pollock painting. This 1965 Dodge Coronet is painted in the style of the abstract painter Piet Mondrian. His other cars are a little harder to define, like his magnet car, with magnetic trinkets on the hood and sunburned Barbie’s on the roof.

Magnet car

CONRAD JAY BLADEY
“These are the 'no sunblock Barbies,' which is what happens if you don’t have your sun block, you turn nice and red.”

Conrad’s most elaborate work of art is his “Handie” car: a car with a message.

CONRAD JAY BLADEY
“My Handie car is a ‘90 Grand Am, covered with hands, and it’s a shrine to the helping hand. Give thanks for help. Never underestimate the power, in this world, of the helping hand.”

Handie car - a car with a message

Unlike many car artists who keep their cars in museums, Conrad is proud that his cars actually get him around.

CONRAD JAY BLADEY “I bring my wife to work. I drive my daughter to school. I take myself to work. I do my errands. We go everywhere in art cars.”

the bumper says it all!

Conrad says that everyone should try some form of art and surround themselves with it.

CONRAD JAY BLADEY
“My thing is to encourage people to make art cars. Go make one. So I can see it. So I can smile when I’m watching, you know, when I’m driving. Give me something to look at.”

And Conrad has given us plenty to look at and smile about and a new way of experiencing art.

Art cars lighten up people's faces says Conrad

NATURAL SOUND - Montage of horns

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