Gretchen Baer, who grew up on the Island and currently resides in Arizona, demonstrates her political support through her art.
It’s likely you’ve seen one of her high-profile installations riding around the Vineyard: The “HillCar,” a 1989 Toyota Corolla plastered with painted images of Hillary Clinton when she was running for president.
Baer drove her “HillCar” all around the country, following the Clinton campaign. “Hillary loved it, I got to be part of her campaigns in both 2008 and 2016, which was a great thrill,” she said.
And on the Island, too, people enjoyed its bright colors and optimistic flair. The “HillCar” made its appearance on the Island for the entirety of the summer back in 2022.
“Everyone has their own strengths,” Baer said. “Maybe some people are good at phone-banking, or knocking on doors. But I’m an artist, so I use my art as a form of support.”
Baer is now introducing the “Kamala Car,” a nod to Vice President Kamala Harris and her bid for the White House.
The artist spent last week painting the latest installment, using specialized paint in bright blues, yellows, and oranges. The former Vineyard artist described the “Kamala Car” as bright and optimistic. It features a large portrait of Harris on the hood, with a vibrant yellow background, as well as bright blue waves, and Harris amid a beach scene on one of the side doors. The opposite side features orange stars, blues, and purples, and another portrait of Harris.
Known for her painting and recent mosaic work, Baer has done several others of these portrait cars in the past. The “HillCar” was her only other political endeavor, and she said she never thought she’d do another.
But then came the “Kamala Car,” inspired by her immense support for Harris.
Taking her own Toyota and using a kind of sign paint called 1 Shot, Baer took to creating her masterpiece. She is planning to go in with beads for a decorative mosaic element, inspired by her mother’s own mosaic work. Her mother, Jacqueline Baer, a well-known artist on the Island who passed away last year, was most recently known for her mosaic beaded mannequins.
Prior to the project, Baer said she put out a GoFundMe to see if people would be invested, and to gather enough money to begin. “I got an overwhelmingly nice response,” she said. “I found out Kamala was going to be in Phoenix, just last week for a rally, so I had to do the car really fast.”
And Baer was able to finish the car in just seven days, which then gave her the chance to get up to Phoenix in time for the rally. To cap off the excitement, she was able to meet Harris at the rally.
Baer completes her car projects on her own car, as a way to make a sort of statement. “I kind of live it once I do it,” she said. “Everywhere I go, whether it’s a grocery store, or a trip, I’m always campaigning for that, or at least being a spokesperson. I’m honoring that person.”
Her current project aside from the “Kamala Car” has been a children’s mural project. Baer runs a children’s art studio, Studio Mariposa, just across the border from Arizona, in Mexico, where they’ve begun painting the border wall. She said they’ve painted about a mile so far, and have also included beaded mosaic elements.
“The “Kamala Car” will be making the scene there too,” Baer said about the kids’ art studio.
Although she’s in Arizona now, Baer said to look out for the “Kamala Car” on the Island in the near future.
Nice job Gretchen
Looking forward to seeing it. !
Like harris, it’s empty. Just the body and tires…
Peter– It looks like there are seats, a steering wheel,
doors, windows, an engine, brakes and thousands
of other parts– Including a human operating it.
But you see what you want to see, and if all you see
are a body and tires, wellllll… OK ! I get it–
That metaphorical glass that can still take another few drops
of water is almost empty if you think negatively enough.
You really see a human operating that? Next you’ll tell us the economy is doing good.
Jerome, the stock market has hit several highs under Biden’s leadership. The unemployment rate is at one of the lowest levels ever (which means that for anyone who wants to work can find a job).
My friends are buying the nicest house, cars, home goods, and services for their children than they ever have in their entire lives. Maybe you too?
Actually she is a Marionette.
Too many Americans are struggling to pay rent and put dinner on the table. The food pantry has seen a big increase in need, and that holds true in many locations. The hardships are real.
Take off those rose colored glasses Don! She is a hoax, a figment of democrats imagination, like a fantasy created in the Disney studios.
Peter, the NDA recently expired for the producer of The Apprentice. Trump was “created” like a Disney character.
Peter– please tell me about the “hoax”.
Tell me about how many felony convictions she has
related to fraud. Fraud and hoaxes are closely related you know.
Tell me how many millions of dollars she has been ordered to
pay for civil defamation suits.
Tell me how many criminal cases she has been indicted for.
Has she stolen any top secret documents and openly
shared them with her supporters ?
Come on Peter–
I know that you would like her to be some sort of
a figment of someone’s imagination, but she is a real
person, and the current vice president of the United States.
It is very likely she will be the 47 th president of the United
States. Whether you like it or not. My rose colored glasses seem to
provide me with pretty good vision. I see her flaws
, I see her weaknesses, and
I don’t blindly goose step in agreement with every one of her
policy stances. For instance — if she murdered someone on 5 th
avenue in NY, guess what ? I wouldn’t vote for her.
But if trump murdered a random person on 5th avenue
most of his supporters would believe some sort of
wild conspiracy theory that the person deserved it–
or it was just Jesuses” way to call someone home.
Perhaps you should take those
blinders off and take a look at reality.
Thankfully, we have peripheral vision.
I would suggest that you use it once in a while.
it might actually make you an informed voter.
Informed voters are the bedrock of democracy.
And I know that you want to save democracy in the U.S
Or maybe not– some people like living under dick-taters.
It’s like being in the military– they tell you when to S**t,
shower and shave, when to eat, when to sleep, and
when you can visit your family. A lot of people like that.
Not me– how about you ?
Most North Koreans think they live in the best
country on earth. The power of lies and deception is
pretty strong to the uninformed. Some people on
this very site actually think the economy was better in 2020 than now
and the U,S was more respected by the world
community in 2020 than it is now.
I find that disturbing
As you know, Don. I’ve never voted for trump, so your comments don’t impact my statements. Harris may well win and I fully understand your supporting democrats no matter what. It’s just my BS meter off the charts with harris. She’s a train wreck not worthy of the title of president much less vp. I am now on the record for raising issues the MSM won’t. The voters will decide the matter.
Proud donor of this project !! Gretchen is a gift as we’re her parents ♥️
Beka, so happy ❤️ for you! 😁
Beka –good parenting pays off — a tip of the hat to you
Wonderful! I love it Gretchen!
For those of you who are confused about how to pronounce the
name of our next president ;
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/22/politics/video/kerry-washington-name-pronounciation-kamala-harris-dnc-chicago-digvid
For those of you who are immature and childish enough
to deliberately mispronounce her name– Well– you can do that.
You are immature and childish after all.
But the adults in the room will just smile and know how immature
and childish you are.
Real adults after all, can recognize childish and immature behavior
in “so called” adults every time.
We have lots of experience to help us recognize that.
We have been seeing it nearly every day
since an immature man child rode down a golden escalator
In June of 2015 and tapped into the ethnic, racial
anti-semitic, homophobic etc. hatred that was just
below the surface of America’s civilized society.
I needed a laugh today.
You intentionally and frequently call a fellow commenter by the wrong name, Don. All because you don’t care for his views.
This has continued throughout every discussion he participates in, and sometimes when he’s yet to post a single word.
You’ve done it for years, including after he politely told you that’s not his name.
Now you’re declaring, even lecturing, about such childish behavior? Without apology or acknowledgement of your own name-butchering habits? Can’t make this stuff up.
Yes, it’s immature. That’s why the majority are precise when addressing one another. Join us.
Great point Katie– it’s a common nickname
And I am not mispronouncing it.
I might be misspelling it though . Perhaps I should use
andie.
My name is actually Donald — You can call me Don or Donnie or
whatever
He tried calling me “Donnie” for a while– I didn’t care,
lots of people call me Donnie.. My parents called me that.
I’m sure Kamala is not really bothered by it.
By the way, even sleepy Joe doesn’t seem bothered by the
nickname “Brandon”. Some people are just thin skinned,I guess.
It’s kind of weird if you think about it.
It’s as simple as this: Andrew has made it clear that Andy isn’t his name. Maybe we can get away with something like that once or twice as a joke. Hundreds of times is more about trying to needle, and for what purpose?
Harris probably doesn’t care too much in her line of work. People used to get my name wrong often, and it wasn’t a big deal. They then assigned me Katie, feeling it was easier. But some folks do have a preference for how they’re addressed, and that’s okay, too.
I see it as a tiny gesture that can go a long way towards fostering respectful conversation. Beats the alternative, which is furthering tension. There’s already plenty of that due to the serious nature of what we discuss.
Thank you Katie. A very prescient comment.
Thanks for pointing that out, Katie. So true.
“Real adults after all, can recognize childish and immature behavior in “so called” adults every time.”
For reasons which should be obvious, some of the cruel, taunting, and untrue remarks in these pages remind me of the Tin Man’s ditty in the Wizard of Oz:
When a man’s an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And yet I’m torn apart
Just because I’m presumin’
That I could be a human
If I only had a heart.
real adults don’t accuse and call anyone and everyone
who objects to anything the Israeli government
does in Gaza or anywhere else “Jew hating anti-semites.”
Do you even know how many people you have referred to
as anti semites here ?
I’m sorry you’ve had to put up with it, Andrew. Jackie is right—we’re not in Kansas anymore.
Don, why won’t your candidate have 3 debates? Why not face the press ans answer hard questions? What is she afraid of? What is she hiding? Methinks she’s afraid for all to see the queen has no clothes…
Peter– I think you may be confused once again.
It’s trump who is “hinting” that he will drop out
of the only debate he has agreed to so far.
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c4gd9p9l0y8o
The reason ? Yeah– you guessed it– ABC
is, according to trump , “biased ” against him, and
WHAAAAA they asked him hard questions WHHHAAAAaaaaa
not only that, ABC is a disgrace..
And they want to mute the mikes so he can’t interrupt
Harris while she is speaking.
Remember that Fox debate ?
Why does she have to have press conferences ?
I know that Fox is keeping track and trying to make
a big deal about it.
Yeah, trump had one at Merry legos but it’s hard to
tell what he actually said since it was mostly
word salad with a heaping dose of whine dressing.
Then I’ll debate kamala, Don! Put me in coach! I’d shred her in minutes. She’s an empty pant suit who is seriously unprepared for the job of vp, much less president. You work for the DNC Don. Can’t you pull some strings??
It seems that nobody is saying ” wow the last 4 years have been great , let’s keep it up”
As a result they have to make a big deal about things like mispronouncing a name.
Glad the lady is so passionate that she made a car wrap, that took effort
Admit it though, islanders would lose their minds if someone drove around in a Trump car
I,m sure the story in the times wouldn’t include praise
Actually, John, the last 4 years have been great.
Biden stopped the pandemic.
Lowered unemployment to its lowest point in 50 years,
The stock market has consistently seen record highs
inflation is under 3 percent
wages are outpacing inflation
millions of jobs created in the last 4 years
increase in the rate of deficit spending slowed
gdp increased at an average 3.48% 2021-2023
in perspective– average gdp 2017-2020 was 1.2 %
more Americans have health insurance that at any time in history
we have allies in Europe and around the world again
we are no longer involved in Afghanistan
We are defending freedom in Ukraine
we produce more oil than any country at anytime in history
gas is cheaper — without even adjusting for inflation than it was
during the “W” Bush administration
Our president, even though he is declining mentally is not an
embarrassment to the world
And I don’t think Kamala will be throwing food around in the white house,
or incessantly whining every time somebody disagrees with him, or points
one of his blatant lies.
So let me say it–
” wow the last 4 years have been great , let’s keep it up”.
The last 4 years have been great? For whom? That’s not even funny. The lack of empathy for those suffering— homelessness, hunger, illness and unaffordable medications, mental illness, the hatreds of prejudice— is part of the many liberal lies these days. Liberals are supposed to care about others, be inclusive. This blather is why all they’ve got to run a compaign is hatred for Trump and the insane “hope and joy”. Ovaries apparently are all you need to run a country. And hate, hope, and joy and 35 bucks will buy you a burger on MV. Good luck, world, good luck, America.
Don, last 4 years have been disastrous for the country. Biden/harris the worst administration since Jimmy Carter! Why you ask? Bidenflation, 10 million plus illegals, sanctuary cities imploding, Afghanistan withdrawal, weak Iran policy (175 attacks against US forces since Oct 2023), 94 executive orders, lied about president’s health, dopey Green New Deal, blowing up the budget with insane give aways like college tuition debt forgiveness. Just today we learned from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that he caved in to demands from biden administration to control content regarding covid and hunter bidens laptop from hell. Economy naturally picking up after covid subsided. Biden had nothing to do with ending covid. If anything, it was trump who pushed Operation Warpspeed. Bidens weak and feckless foreign policy encouraged putin to invade ukraine and drag out the fighting with timid ROE. China/iran and North Korea are joyous at our shrinking power and presidential weakness. Biden has caved in to the squad and antisemitic far left of party. This administration can’t go away fast enough. Most Americans are fed up and won’t choose four more years of this crap under an incompetent, unserious, leftist in harris and walz.
Kamala still avoiding the press and president Biden is…on vacation again. Nobody’s minding the store. Nobody’s steering the ship of state. Biden should resign now.
“Nobody’s minding the store.”
And if we can see this, so can countries that do not wish America well. One of my bigger fears amid the worrisome circus that has been 2024.
I guess my wallet has been lying to me for the last 4 years thanks for exposing it Don
John, just for the record, I think Biden has done an amazing job as President of the United States. Unlike Trump who destroyed the soybean farmers (one friend said the other day that she feels betrayed by Americans who would vote for Trump considering how much damage he did to farmers), destroyed our steel industry, and created a strong political partnership between two countries who work against the United States. Feels like treason to me.
So, I’m happy to say: the last four years have been great!
There is not a single liberal who talks about why they support Kamala. Gender and race are not qualifications for president. Pro Kamala is always all about hatred for Trump. Hate, hate, hate. You see it in this thread about a talented artist decorating her car. Liberals would vote for my aloe plant if it ran for president against Trump. If anyone questioned why a plant should be president, they’d say it’s because…. Trump. Kamala has been shoved down the throats of dems by liars who deceived all of America about Biden unfitness. And now they’re making joy-lemonade out of a lemon. And they are drinking it, too. I’m not.
Yes!
Jackie– I am supporting Kamala because she is
qualified. Just to keep it short, She was a senator,
an attorney general and is currently serving as
Vice President.
I like her economic policies . Billionaires have had enough
tax breaks in recent decades.Time for the
middle class to get a few. She supports
school lunch programs, parental leave from work after
childbirth, and LGBTQ rights.
Se is pro choice, pro family, and is for working
‘people to be able to have a living wage on a full time job.
She supports Ukraine, Israel, the United nations, Nato and the
international courts.
She cares about the environment.
She supports affordable health care and has worked to
lower prescription drug costs.
She recognizes that the border issue is a problem because of
unbearable conditions in some south American countries.
She supports our active military personnel and veterans.
She know what the words compassion and empathy mean.
She is optimistic and happy — yes, Spaghetti Monster forbid
She is happy and upbeat. She can actually laugh.
Is that enough for you , Jackie ?
Perhaps you could tell us about why you support trump.
“She know what the words compassion and empathy mean.”
Please. She had no empathy whatsoever for victims who were once sexually assaulted by pedophile priests. She wasn’t even willing to do her job and assist them, opting to protect those pedos and her own ambitions instead. Every other DA in the area did the right thing, proving it could be done and rendering her excuse invalid.
She also has a tendency to laugh hysterically when asked about tragedy. That’s not joy. It’s something else entirely.
Face it, Don. You like her because she’s the democrat running against trump. Case closed. She’s proven over nearly 4 years she’s unserious and unqualified for the top job. Here’s a disturbing report just in from FAIR: illegals cost American taxpayers $150 BILLION in 2023 (for 20 million illegals). It’s $1 BILLION in Massachusetts alone and Governor Healy has some explaining to do. Harris the Border Czar played a HUGE part in this disaster!
You support her because you hate Trump, like every other liberal I know.
Burn
Sorry that ended up in the wrong order.
The comment was meant for Don as he was Burned pretty bad by Katie. 😂
Funny– I don’t feel burned.
“We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are.”
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