August 4, 2014

Conundrum

The people at Jimmie Johnson Kearny Mesa Chevrolet are so nice. They are polite, well-groomed and, of course, aren't charging me a penny to replace my ignition. Again.

Also, the customer lounge has been redecorated since (my warranty ran out) I stopped coming here in 2012. I imagine it's because they knew they were about to get a ton of recall business.

The coffee is good too. No more of that baked-on, too hot, bitter blend. Now it's K-Cup all the way. 

But the title of this post is "Conundrum," and here's the problem: my work here is not done.

My goal was to chide General Motors for making an inferior product, selling it to unsuspecting customers, and lying about -- covering up, basically -- the problems with the car. For a decade. 

While those unsuspecting customers were having wrecks and between 13 (General Motors' claim) and over 300 (the claim of reputable news outlets) of GM's customers were being killed in their inferior products.

Before I learned about the trouble with my car, but not before GM and my dealer knew, I started getting letters offering me a lot of money for a trade in. These letters increased in their frequency, intensity, and, after I found out I had been betrayed, irony.

I remember thinking: My 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt is worthless (less than worthless, it can turn itself into a gass-filled projectile), so why am I being offered...? Oh, they want them off the road at all costs... Oh, at my cost.

Me want these cars off the road but I'll tell you what I don't want: a) to bear the cost of solving their problem; b) to saddle another consumer with my bad car; and c) to own any General Motors product. Especially since the problems with my Cobalt seem more systemic, what with recalls this year totaling more cars than GM manufactured in the last three years. And the likelihood that the dealer knew about these problems, even as their sales people were selling me a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, is high!

High is what I must have been. Jimmie Johnson Kearny Mesa Chevrolet sols me a defective car, tried to use it as a trade in on a (possibly) similarly defective car, and, because it's been documented that dealership service departments new about the problem before anyone, ostensibly lied to me about the car.

And won't do anything about it. Well, they'll try to sell me another car, and fix this one. But what about all the lying-while-people-are-dying that they did?

And here's a second conundrum: why are they (GM) selling more cars than ever? Are consumers that dumb? And, if they are, do they deserve to die?

My bottom line is that General Motors made inferior (deadly) products and lied about it. Jimmie Johnson Kearny Mesa Chevrolet supported that lie and their only answer was to try to get me to put more money into their coffers. Even if I had the money, why would I return to the abusive relationship?

Meanwhile, a gentleman with a recalled car (the newer trade in from the older recalled car) was telling someone how happy he was that he got a deal. On a car that he's brought in for recall service. And he just spent money in the gift shop. 

He does not deserve to die. But he is the target demographic. He is why GM is succeeding. He is who I am trying, in vain, so send my message to.

And the DeathTrapArtCar isn't finished yet. I wanted to use it as a rolling protest to get under GM's skin for taking so long to fix my car. Now it's getting fixed.

I also wanted to use it as leverage to get my money back. Lemon Law and all that. But I didn't want anyone else to end up with the defective car. That and everyone is doing a great job of ignoring me until I go away. 

So I guess I can't go away. I need to continue to send the message to... People who have a hard time getting it.

 I need help.

August 2, 2014

From our friends at RecycledRecordArt

Welcome to the RecycledRecordArt.com Best Comment Contest!  In order to win, you need to qualify and then post the best comment for the item (on the list below).  Below is information on us, how to qualify, the rules, and a list of the Notebooks and Record Holders you can win by creating the best comments on them.

About RecycledRecordArt.com
At RecycledRecordArt.com, we rescue record albums from dark garages, and dank storage units, and keep them out of landfills (vinyl records are non biodegradable!) by turning them into working art.  We take album covers and up-cycle them into reusable Notebooks and vinyl records are forged into Record Holders -- Bowls, Boxes and Pencil Holders.  Record Holders and are perfect for holding small items in your office, living room, bedroom or anywhere you need to keep things. And they make excellent gifts!

How to Qualify
In order to win, you must qualify.  To qualify for the RecycledRecordArt.com Best Comment Contest, you must be willing and able to:
  • travel to Kearney Mesa in San Diego, California to claim your prize
  • help make your Record Holder shape, which entails getting hot
  • post photos and comments all over Social Media during, and after the contest
  • post good, kind, humorous and witty comments on the pages of the RecycledRecordArt products on the list below
  • Email your name and phone number to: info@recycledrecordart.com 
Rules
  • Click link(s) below to be taken to the page the item(s) you want to win
    • Once there, write a comment at the bottom of the page
    • Follow all protocols for leaving comments
  • In the comment, describe why you should be given this item free of charge
    • Share the page, and your attached comment(s) on Social Media
  • The best comment, placed (on qualifying items) during the contest dates, wins that item
    • The best comment is at the sole discretion of RecycledRecordArt
    • "There is no criteria for 'best' but I'll know it when I see it"
  • You may enter as many times as you like for as many of the items, on the list below, as you like
    • Only comments on the items listed below qualify for the contest
    • But go ahead and comment on other items too
  • You may comment as much and as many times as you like
    • Commenting in response to another person's comment is encouraged
  • All comments will be moderated 
    • Mean, Dangerous or non-clever comments will be removed 
    • Removed comments are disqualified
  • Encourage your friends to like your comments on Social Media
  • The Contest begins at 8:00 a.m. on 7/28/14 and ends at 5:00 p.m. on 9/1/14
    • Only comments made between the above dates/times will be considered
    • If someone purchase the item before that time you're out of luck
  • Winners will be announced September 2nd
    • You will be asked to contact us to schedule your processing and pick up time
What you can win
Each item has a link to its own page on RecycledREcordArt.com. To click the link of the item(s) you want to win and leave your comment(s) there.  We've sorted them by Artist, Album and Style.  Good luck and may the comments be ever in your favor!

Contest Cuties By Artist

Artist Album Style
Adams, Bryan Cuts Like a Knife 80s
Chorus Line Broadway Cast Album Musicals
Clapton, Eric Timepieces Classic Rock
Cocker, Joe A Little Help From My Friends Classic Rock
Diamond, Neil The Jazz Singer Musicals
ELO/ONJ XANADU Soundtrack Musicals
Jett, Joan I Love Rock N Roll 80s
Kool and the Gang Ladies' Night  R&B
Sister Sledge We Are Family R&B
Snow, Phoebe Phoebe Snow Classic Rock
Steve Miller Band Fly Like an Eagle Classic Rock
Van Halen 1984 80s



Contest Cuties By Album

Album Artist Style
1984 Van Halen 80s
A Little Help From My Friends Cocker, Joe Classic Rock
Broadway Cast Album Chorus Line Musicals
Cuts Like a Knife Adams, Bryan 80s
Fly Like an Eagle Steve Miller Band Classic Rock
I Love Rock N Roll Jett, Joan 80s
Ladies' Night  Kool and the Gang R&B
Phoebe Snow Snow, Phoebe Classic Rock
The Jazz Singer Diamond, Neil Musicals
Timepieces Clapton, Eric Classic Rock
We Are Family Sister Sledge R&B
XANADU Soundtrack ELO/ONJ Musicals



Contest Cuties By Style

Style Artist Album
80s Adams, Bryan Cuts Like a Knife
80s Jett, Joan I Love Rock N Roll
80s Van Halen 1984
Classic Rock Clapton, Eric Timepieces
Classic Rock Cocker, Joe A Little Help From My Friends
Classic Rock Snow, Phoebe Phoebe Snow
Classic Rock Steve Miller Band Fly Like an Eagle
Musicals Chorus Line Broadway Cast Album
Musicals Diamond, Neil The Jazz Singer
Musicals ELO/ONJ XANADU Soundtrack
R&B Kool and the Gang Ladies' Night 
R&B Sister Sledge We Are Family

July 3, 2014

All my keys

So after leaving my key in the car three times, and dropping it under the car at least once, I have decided to keep all my keys together on the ring. This is against what General Motors told me to do when they recalled my car. But, my car has not been fixed yet, and driving it has become more and more frustrating every day. 
 
I am really frustrated with General Motors and the way they been treating me and wish to just say: fuck you and your stupid solution to a dangerous problem.

Oh, and quit sending me letters telling me that people really want my car and that I can traded in for top dollar. Who in their right mind would let GM fuck them over twice?

Niot me!

Word to the wise: my car is dangerous as fuck and I've quit caring. In fact I'm a little mad so approach the DeathTrapArtCar with caution!

June 2, 2014

Chalk holder test

I don't know if you can see in the photo, but the chalk holder is attached to the car and can stay there at speeds in excess of 65 mph.

May 29, 2014

More people are using the community chalkboard

Here are a few more photos of people using the community chalkboard. These kids were most likely from Mesa College. Thanks kids!

May 28, 2014

First use of community chalkboard

I was parked at a park in Leucadia, and put the chalk holder on the car (it has its own holder, you'll never guess what it's made from). When I got back from rehearsing, there was this message.

Thanks, thoughtful stranger.

May 24, 2014

Chalk Board Windows

The windows are now chalkboards.
The DeathTrapArtCar now has two of its windows blacked out.  We used Chalk Board Paint so you can send a message to General Motors too! Don't worry, it's legal because the windows are behind the driver's seat where we can see everything with our side-view mirrors.

That makes two perfectly legal places for you to protest the recall that came almost ten years after General Motors first knew about the problem. If you see the DeathTrapArtCar in your neighborhood, and you want to join the protest, here's how:

Your message to GM here:
  • Please only write on the windows when it is safe to do so 
  • Use the chalk provided to send a message to General Motors 
  • Return the chalk when you're done so others can protest too
  • Post your photo to social media with these hashtags...
#ShameOnYouGeneralMotors
#GMRecall
#DeathTrapArtCar
#ChevroLame
Thanks! 

A little chalk from the chalk holder and I can send a message to General Motors.

May 18, 2014

Portal Out of the Mortal Coil

Lizzie Silverman came to the Open Car on May 17th with a plan for the passenger door of the DeathTrapArtCar. Looks pretty good, don't you think?

May 17, 2014

Open Car 10am-2pm Today 7317 El Cajon Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 91942


Open Car 10am-2pm Today 7317 El Cajon Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 91942

Are you interested in art, protest art, and/or art painted right on a car? Are you an artist with something to say? What if you just want to see what a rolling protest of General Motors looks like?

If you are any of these people -- or anybody else -- you are invited to a free ArtCar Open Car Sat. May 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The ArtCar Open Car is the best way to learn how and why we're protesting General Motors' late recall of a certain 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt.  Partial answer: We're turning a regular Chevy Cobalt into the DeathTrapArtCar!


The ArtCar Open Car will feature the partially transformed car and the artists who are making protest art on it. Some of them might be painting right on the car!  The ArtCar Open Car takes place at On The Edge Art Gallery, 7317 El Cajon Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 91942. -see the map

Come take a look at the DeathTrapArtCar and, if you are an artist, claim a panel on which to paint your protest!  The photo below shows who's claimed what, and what's still available. Please join us at On The Edge Art Gallery, on May 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We look forward to meeting you!

Here's what's available:

May 15, 2014

Worst Job Ever: Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet‎ Telesales

Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet: are you sure you want me to sell you this car? Sincerely, Kevin Six 
This is how the poor shell-shocked woman must feel after calling me today. She called and asked for me.  She read her script fairly well -- especially because there's no answer to the type of questions I was asking.

Her biggest mistake -- or I should say, the biggest mistake with the script -- is:
"We have special pricing because there are a lot of people who want your car, so--"

That's when she was politely but firmly asked if she though I was living under a rock. 

Who is going to want my twice-recalled and so-far not fixed 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt?  Especially one that has been the subject of so many memoranda from General Motors.  Memoranda that General Motors sent to Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet in lieu of recalling my 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt.

Actually, the memoranda in question were sent to Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet, from General Motors, about a car that I didn't own yet.  And the kind sales staff at Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet chose to sell me the car any way.  They keep trying to get me to sell them the car but none of my concerns are ever addressed.  Namely: who in their right mind would buy or sell a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt!?

AND WHY WOULD I USE THE LAUGHABLE TRADE IN ALLOWANCE TO PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM LIARS WHO ARE GOING TO SELL ME ANOTHER INFERIOR PRODUCT?

They keep trying to sell me some other General Motors product but I want to let them know that:
a: I don't trust anything made by General Motors and sold by Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet;
b: I feel like I was robbed of the $8,000.00 I spent on my 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt;
c: I would never let my horrible little 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt (manufactured by General Motors and sold to me by Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet, who had to know of its defects) be owned by anyone, therefore;
d: The only solution is to destroy my 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt; and
e: Return the $8,000 to me so I can buy a car that works.

Of course, I am also having a lot of fun turning my 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt into the DeathTrapArtCar.

Man, people who call me on behalf of Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet are having a bad day today.

May 9, 2014

New Video

Check out the video of Justine Hince, owner of Fontly Yours, as she marks up the DeathTrapArtCar.  And she's not done yet.  She has a few choice words to send to General Motors but this time in olde time script.  Check out the video of Justine branding the DeathTrapArtCar!

May 8, 2014

ArtCar Open Car Sat. May 17 10a-2p

Painted Panel
Are you interested in art, protest art, and/or art painted right on a car? Are you an artist with something to say? What if you just want to see what a rolling protest of General Motors looks like? 

If you are any of these people -- or anybody else -- you are invited to a free ArtCar Open Car Sat. May 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The ArtCar Open Car is the best way to learn how and why we're protesting General Motors' late recall of a certain 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt.  Partial answer: We're turning a regular Chevy Cobalt into the DeathTrapArtCar!

Lizzie claims her door.
The ArtCar Open Car will feature the partially transformed car and the artists who are making protest art on it. Some of them might be painting right on the car!  The ArtCar Open Car takes place at On The Edge Art Gallery, 7317 El Cajon Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 91942. -see the map

Come take a look at the DeathTrapArtCar and, if you are an artist, claim a panel on which to paint your protest!  The photo below shows who's claimed what, and what's still available. Please join us at On The Edge Art Gallery, on May 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We look forward to meeting you!

Here's what's available:

May 4, 2014

Why I’m Protesting GM’s Recall and How

Our founder, Kevin Six recently spoke about why he founded DeathTrapArtCar.com on his own blog, KevinSix.com.  Here's the post:

Why I’m Protesting GM’s Recall and How

ignition
$3 part = 303 deaths.
You may know that General Motors is recalling several million cars for problems that they knew about for almost ten years.  There are several accidents that have happened as a result of not recalling the cars sooner — or in the case of my car, ever making it.  My auto dealer, it turns out, had received dozens of service bulletins from General Motors in lieu of GM recalling my car.  This means that they knew of the problem while they were in the showroom selling me my 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt.

Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet San Diego
Where the deal went down.

Shame on General Motors for dragging their heels and killing 303 people (13 if you ask General Motors) in Cobalts and other poorly designed GM products.  Shame on Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet for selling me this car after reading (or ignoring) so many service bulletins on it.  Shame on me for thinking that one recall on a CarFax report meant that the car was now fixed and would give me no more trouble.

charlatan
People who sell cars with deadly defects.


Lots of shame and blame to go around and all I want is to have my car replaced by the charlatans who sold it to me and the crooks who made it.  No such luck.  They want to fix my car but I think that the public should be warned about my 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, which, incidentally, is painted Caution Tape Yellow.  So warned they shall be!

Art
Cute Art Car.
I have decided to make my 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt into the DeathTrapArtCar.  Art cars are cars (often VW Beetles) that are painted in all sorts of cool ways by artists.  My art car will be a rolling protest to General Motors for making a lemon (and painting it yellow, who does that?), to Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet (for selling me a car that they knew was a rotten lemon) and a warning to everyone near the car that it just might turn itself (and its airbags) off and become a 65-mile-per-hour, gas-filled projectile.  At any time!

DeathTrapArtCar: Death Isn't Pretty
Death Isn’t Pretty: 303 bloody fingerprints represent the recall dead.
I will have artists paint messages of protest to GM and warnings to the general public on my car and post the results on a website and YouTube channel I created for the occasion.  The goal now is to shame, chide and otherwise embarrass General Motors and Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet who, as corporations are people and capable of all emotion.
They need to be made to look as silly as I feel driving my Accident-waiting-to-happen. And I want the car to be all painted before my recall appointment at Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet — which is whenever they get the part.  And I need artists to help me make a statement.  If you are an artist, or even a concerned citizen who can wield a paintbrush, felt marker or spray can, I need you!  I am showing the car at an impromptu Open Car event at a local art gallery on May 17th.

DeathTrapArtCar Banner
Protest Website.
Your art will appear on my 2007 Chevy Cobalt, at DeathTrapArtCar.com, and wherever I go in the car.  I would like to go to fairs, events and parades in the car and will entertain offers from museums… I will also send press releases with pictures.  The press will cover the car that is covered in art and then GM will… think of their customers as human (like corporations, with the full range of emotion and capacity for pain).
Here is the information:

What: Open Car call for artists to create protest art on my 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, which is now the DeathTrapArtCar.  The Open Car is an opportunity for the curious to see the car, to discuss what messages to paint on the car, and for artists to claim a panel on it.

When: the Open Car is Saturday, May 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where: at OnTheEdgeArtGallery, 7317 El Cajon Blvd. La Mesa, CA  91942

Questions? Contact Kevin Six, frustrated 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt owner and manager of the DeathTrapArtCar Gallery, at car@deathtrapartcar.com.

Why: Car companies have a responsibility to not kill the public because their cars don’t work.  They also need to tell us our cars don’t work when they discover that our cars don’t work.  Not nine years later.  They can buy silence for only so long.  Art is eternal.  Art is powerful.  Art will bring General Motors to their knees! Maybe.

I welcome your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.  Thank you.

May 3, 2014

Next Open Car May 17

Join us at OnTheEdgeArtGallery, Saturday, May 17 from 10 AM to 1 PM. Watch the DeathTrapArtCar being painted, protest General Motors' bad recall practices, and claim one of the remaining panels on the formerly normal 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt.

The gallery is located at 7317 El Cajon Blvd. (on the edge of San Diego and La Mesa). For more information, email car@deathtrapartcar.com.

See you there!

April 26, 2014

Car Partitioned, Artists Make Claims and Art Happens

It was a busy day at the first DeathTrapArtCar Open Car event.  On Saturday, April 26th, the DeathTrapArtCar made its way to OnTheEdgeArtGallery where its panels were divided, artists claimed some of them, and two panels wer painted upon.  Take a look at the photos.
A selfie first thing in the morning of the Open Car.

Artist Lizzie Silverman and DTAC curator Kevin Six.


Death Isn't Pretty.  302 fingerprints represent the number of people killed in Cobalts since GM knew about the problem.  General Motors claims 13 deaths but we think differently.

Artist Lizzie Silverman describes what she's going to do with the passenger door.

The roof of the car is available for now...

Hand and finger prints on the DeathTrapArtCar.

Which is it?  13 or 302 deaths?  Quite a message to send to General Motors.

Artist Midge Hyde claims her panel (left rear).

The DeathTrapArtCar will be painted, and otherwise arted, at OnTheEdgeArtGallery
7317 El Cajon Blvd. La Mesa, CA  91942

Setting up

Setting up for today's Open Car

April 24, 2014

As Seen on "Just a Car Guy"

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/04/reaction-to-gm-recall-on-chevy-cobalts.html
A friend of a friend, who has a car blog,  picked up the DeathTrapArtCar story.  And there are comments.  One which read, "Shame on them, I would not take a GM car if they gave me one for free." Read the article here:
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/04/reaction-to-gm-recall-on-chevy-cobalts.html

April 23, 2014

Come see the DeathTrapArtCar being arted upon

Open Car This Saturday

Come see the DeathTrapArtCar at OnTheEdgeArtGallery

The DeathTrapArtCar will make its first appearance at On The Edge Art Gallery this Saturday, April 26th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  This is an opportunity for the curious to see the car and hear our plans for it -- and for artists to claim their panels.  Lead Artist Michael Arata will be there and calligrapher Justine Hince will be working right on the car! There are a finite number of panels so reserve yours soon!

the DeathTrapArtCarThe gallery is located at 7317 El Cajon Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 91942 -see the map-.  Look for the bright yellow 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt in the parking lot.

For more information, visit http://deathtrapartcar.com/ or e-mail us at: Car@DeathTrapArtCar.com.

Please forward this info to your friends and bring as many people to the Open Car as you want.  We hope to see you there!

April 22, 2014

From City Beat

Thanks for the write-up Kinsee Morlan!

Tuesday, Apr 22, 2014 - 49 minutes ago Canvassed | Art & culture

San Diego artist turns car recall into an opportunity for art

Kevin Six's recalled 2007 Chevy Cobalt to be transformed into a mobile gallery filled with messages to General Motors

By Kinsee Morlan The last time San Diego actor, activist and artist Kevin Six made an appearance on this blog, he was attempting to engage the community in his conceptual-art commentary on the Occupy Wall Street movement. This time, Six has something to say about the recent Chevy Cobalt recall.
A not-so-proud owner of a 2007 Chevy Cobalt, Six says that before he takes his car in to have it fixed, he's inviting artists to help him paint the outside of the vehicle with messages and imagery meant to communicate their disappointment in the slow and slimy way he says General Motors handled the recall. His car will be be parked at On the Edge Art Gallery (7317 El Cajon Blvd.) in La Mesa. 
More information on the project can be found at deathtrapartcar.com.

So my dealer did know

According to the Business Standard, my dealership knew how horrible my car was and sold it to me any way...

Sending alerts instead, GM delayed car recalls

But it was not until February that GM recalled millions of the Cobalts and other small cars for an ignition defect that it has now linked to 13 deaths

Let's Blame the Victim

In this case, GM thinks it's the victim and is asking for protection from lawsuits.  Poor GM.

GM Seeks to Shield Itself From Ignition Lawsuits

General Motors Co filed a motion in a U.S. bankruptcy court to enforce a bar on lawsuits related to ignition defects in cars sold before its 2009 bankruptcy as it fights a class action lawsuit that seeks to set aside the restriction.

The plaintiffs also filed a class action lawsuit on Monday, seeking an order declaring that GM cannot use the bankruptcy protection to absolve itself from liabilities.
The faulty ignition switch has been linked to at least 13 deaths and the recall of 2.6 million GM vehicles.

GM emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2009 as a different legal entity than the so-called old GM. Under those terms, the "new GM" shed liability for incidents predating its exit from bankruptcy, and any lawsuit related to pre-bankruptcy issues must be brought against what remains of old GM.
"New GM's recall covenant does not create a basis for the plaintiffs to sue new GM for economic damages relating to a vehicle or part sold by old GM," the company argued in a filing on Monday in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
In its filing, GM asked the court to direct the plaintiffs to cease and desist from further prosecuting against new GM claims that are barred by the bankruptcy sale order and the injunction, and also dismiss the earlier claims.

The plaintiffs have claimed they bought or leased vehicles that had the defective ignition switch and accused GM of fraudulently concealing its knowledge of the defect, saying that as a result, it was not entitled to protection from liability.
GM and lawyers for the plaintiffs were not immediately available for comment.
-- Reuters

April 19, 2014

On The Edge Art Gallery loans parking lot to DeathTrapArtCar

On The Edge Art Gallery (http://www.ontheedgeartgallery.com/) has agreed to allow DeathTrapArtCar artists to use their parking lot to paint -- and otherwise art up -- the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt as it makes its transformation from badly-designed car to the DeathTrapArtCar!  On The Edge Art Gallery is the gallery in residence at the Business Center of La Mesa and the parking lot is large and available on evenings and weekends.



We will notify you our friends, the press, and the general public, of the days and times artists are making art on this car so you can see for yourself how totally cool this project is, for everyone except General Motors. Please consider joining in one of many DeathTrapArtCar mini-protests.


On The Edge Art Gallery is located at 7317 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942, and is easily accessible from Interstate 8.
Here's the map.

We look forward to seeing you there soon!


April 17, 2014

From The Clyde Fitch Report

A GM Chevy Cobalt becomes the DeathTrapArtCar

Kevin Six in his 2007 Chevy Cobalt. It will now become the DeathTrapArtCar.

Kevin Six in his 2007 Chevy Cobalt. It will now become the DeathTrapArtCar.

Actor/playwright Kevin Six is angry, and he’s about to drive that message home to General Motors.

Six bought a 2007 Chevy Cobalt a few years ago. He paid $8,000 cash, thinking it was a solid used car.

That automobile is now about to become theDeathTrapArtCar, a painted protest to warn the public about General Motors.

The vehicle, along with several million others, is part of the General Motors faulty ignition recall. Other models affected include the Chevrolet HHR, Saturn Ion, Saturn Sky, Pontiac G5 and Pontiac Solstice.

General Motors acknowledges the defect has caused 13 deaths and 31 crashes. One auto safety group, however, believes that as many as303 people have died as a result of the problem. The automobile manufacturer disputes their findings.

“I gave them that money in good faith. I don’t think they dealt in good faith,” Six says. He also thinks the faulty ignition is just part of the problem.

Shortly after Six purchased his Chevy Cobalt, the dealership wrote a letter to the actor/playwright saying the car was in high demand. They invited him back to make an upgrade. At the time, he thought they were trying to make another sale by suggesting a trade-in.

In retrospect, he thinks they may have been attempting to do a preemptive recall while trying to get him to buy another car. He didn’t have the money for an upgrade.

Then things started to get funky. The dashboard lights would turn off for no reason. The radio would stop working or the headlights shut down when he put on the emergency brake.

“Those were all things that I thought, ‘Oh, I don’t know what this is. It just seems so odd.’ But it’s not enough to be worried about,” he says.

But after receiving his recall notice from General Motors about the faulty ignition switch earlier this year, Six became convinced the car had electrical problems tied in with the ignition. GM promises only to change the ignition switch, but they won’t recall the car itself.

“So I called him (the dealer) and he was just trying to sell me a new car… He said he would have to look at the Blue Book. And I’m like, there can’t be any Blue Book on this car. It’s worth zero dollars. No one is going to buy this car.”

He is probably right. It is widely known the faulty ignition defect causes the car and its air bags to shut down spontaneously. So you may be cruising down the highway at 70 mph when your car’s engine stops working. Suddenly, your power steering, power brakes and air bags are all useless.

When Six received his recall notice, the dealership didn’t have the parts so they suggested using only one key while driving the car. General Motors told owners heavy key rings could cause the car to slip into standby, making the car shut down.

“And then I thought, ‘Okay. What’s the problem really?’ And I did some research. The problem isn’t about the weight of my key…”

Indeed, he tested the key in his own car and the car doesn’t turn itself off. “I believe the problem is more to do with wiring than mechanics. But what do I know?” he asks.

The faulty ignition switch on the Chevy Cobalt, made by General Motors. (Photo by Kevin Six)

The faulty ignition switch on the Chevy Cobalt, made by General Motors. (Photo by Kevin Six)

According to the New York Times, the Chevrolet Cobalt has been plagued with problems. Owners have complained about failures with the clutch, air conditioning, and power steering. They have also cited locks opening and closing, doors jamming and windows falling out. In 130 instances, General Motors was forced to buy cars back, make settlements or equal trade-ins under state lemon laws.

Six remembers previous General Motors cars that were also problematic. “Going back before my time, the Corvair was one of these cars that just gave GM fits. And my brother owned aVega. And when my Dad tried to get the Vega fixed, the dealership said, ‘Oh they gave us so much trouble. We call them Monzas now.’”

“So this is sort of the grandchild to the Corvair and the bastard daughter to the Vega,” he says.

“I don’t want the car, even if they replace the ignition,” Six laughs. “Because I don’t trust them. For 10 years they knew this problem existed and kept making the cars and kept selling the cars while people were dying.”

So what does a creative theatermaker do when he feels cheated by a large automaker? He uses his $8,000 car for an art project called theDeathTrapArtCar.

Six is inviting San Diego area artists to collaborate and paint a protest on his Chevy Cobalt. “This is a warning to people driving alongside this car. To shame General Motors into doing something about this car. And really, to draw attention to the matter.”

Thus far, he has commitments from two artists. One painter is planning on doing an Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘Total Recall’ motif. “The other… She is a calligrapher and she said, you know, ‘Nothing says screw you like screw you written out really pretty.’” He is looking for others to join them.

Six is wary of driving the vehicle. He still needs to get to work or auditions. Since his model has a stick shift, he thinks he can downshift and pull over if something goes wrong.

Since he has to travel the California freeways, the painted protest will send a message of warning to residents in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties.

He believes that if the car eventually goes back to the dealership, the artistic work will help deter the dealer from selling the vehicle yet again.

Six continues, “And you know, frankly, if they said, ‘Okay, we’ll take the car and destroy it and give you what you paid for it,’ this problem would go away for them.”

“I can’t afford to buy a new car. I can’t afford to buy a used car. I used all of my money on that car. I was hoping that it would last me… I try to keep the cars for 10 years. Did not have plans anytime soon to buy a new car.”


Laura Axelrod is a writer, playwright and actress. Her plays have been performed in New York, California and Europe. She has also contributed to The Birmingham News and AL.com. Her book reviews were distributed nationally through Newhouse News Service. A native of New England, she moved to Alabama six years ago. Read more at www.lauraaxelrod.com. You can also follow her on Twitter: @laura_axelrod.