Bus Painting Archives - Arts in Transit, Inc

Paint a MetroBus at Kiener Plaza on May 2

Help us transform a MetroBus into a piece of moving art featuring our very own Gateway Arch.

Metro Arts in Transit and the Gateway Arch are teaming up for a special Art in Motion bus painting on Wednesday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to noon. Painters of all ages are welcome.

The free bus painting event will take place during the Explore St. Louis “Be a Tourist in Your Own Town” event at Kiener Plaza.

“This art bus painting is a wonderful way to celebrate a project that has transformed downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch, while at the same time giving everyone a truly unique and memorable experience as they show off their artistic talent,” said David Allen, Director of Metro Arts in Transit.

The bus painting event celebrates the grand opening of the Museum at the Gateway Arch on July 3.

Help us Turn a MetroBus Into a Masterpiece

Well-known artwork that’s currently featured in the Saint Louis Art Museum’s galleries will come alive — only this time on a 35-foot MetroBus.

All ages are invited to add their creativity and artistic talent to the Metro transit fleet this Sunday, August 21 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. You’ll be able to transform a MetroBus into a masterpiece on wheels by painting several famous and renowned works of art (which are currently on display at the Museum) onto the bus.

When completed, the painted bus will go into regular service and travel along a variety of MetroBus routes in St. Louis City and St. Louis County for one year.

This Arts in Transit Bus Painting is sponsored by the Saint Louis Art Museum and is part of their Family Sunday: Art on the Go program.

“When it comes to promoting creativity and appreciation and love of art, you cannot find a better partner than the Saint Louis Art Museum,” said David Allen, Director of Metro Arts in Transit. “The bus painting is a fun and memorable way to engage children and adults, and show off some of the amazing work the Museum has to offer.”

The design for the Art Bus was created by local artists William Burton and Robert Ketchens. Burton and Ketchens are well known for their vibrant murals and artwork, and for their commitment to developing and promoting a thriving St Louis art scene.

“This is a great activity for the kids who visit the Museum,” said Sherri Williams, Associate Educator for Youth and Family Learning. “They have the opportunity to meet the artists, foster their creativity, and then see the results of their work as the bus travels around the region.”

Paint a Bus During CMT Great Race on Thursday

People of all ages are invited to add some pizzazz and a burst color to the MetroBus fleet by helping paint two specially designed murals on a MetroBus at the Citizens for Modern Transit’s (CMT) Great Race 2016.

From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, children and adults will transform a MetroBus into a rolling work of art that will travel throughout the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County over the next year. Participants can paint the bus and enjoy food, drinks and music as part of the Great Race Finish Line Celebration and Metro Market at the Cortex Commons (4240 Duncan Ave.) in midtown St. Louis.

“CMT’s Great Race is an exciting annual tradition, and we’re thrilled to partner with Citizens for Modern Transit to make this engaging, interactive activity a part of the race festivities,” said David Allen, Director of Metro Arts in Transit. “The bus painting brings people together and lets them have a lot of fun expressing their creative side, while at the same time reinforcing the important themes of accessible, integrated transportation options.”

The murals for Thursday’s bus painting were designed by The Firecracker Press, and include bright colors and visual elements that highlight the impact of public transit and other types of transportation to keep the region connected and moving forward. The Firecracker Press is a letterpress design studio well known for its vibrant, bold and fun designs, and for combining antique printing technology with modern thinking.

“We’re very excited to have the Metro Arts in Transit Bus painting as part of this year’s Great Race,” said Kim Cella, Executive Director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “The goal of our event is to raise awareness about the importance of our region’s public transit system and multimodal transportation options, and this bus painting is a wonderful way to engage participants and continue sharing this message to the community as the bus travels through the region over the next 12 months.”

CMT’s Great Race 2016 focuses on the last mile of the transit commute and how different modes of transportation can be seamlessly integrated, and explores the next steps needed to ensure alternative transportation options are available to everyone in the future. The two competing Great Race teams will be integrating public transit with bike and car share options to make it to the finish line.