Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Lowe.
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
I work full time with Clarity Center for A New Way, a non-profit located in the Heights where we listen to people and teach people how to listen to each other. I work part-time/seasonally for The Orange Show Center for Visionary Arts as the Art Car Artist Liaison. Though it is a challenge to be so involved in both organizations, both missions are very important to me, and so I find the time and energy.
I’ve always been a good listener, the person that friends go to for support, and sometimes advice. Over 20 years ago, I was introduced to The Clarity Process by a friend, and it changed my life. The nuts and bolts of the process is the assumption that anyone can listen, it just takes a decision to put all of the current “noise” on hold, and pay delighted attention to the person you are listening to – this gives that person the freedom to tell the story of what happened, to have feelings along the way, and space to figure out what to do next themselves. So often when we are struggling, those around us try to help by telling us what to do – when what we really need is to have the space to figure it out for ourselves – which is what The Clarity Process does.
Having someone listen without judgment or giving advice gave me the space to figure out some major obstacles in my life. I eventually started assisting in classes and apprenticing to be able to listen to folks. The non-profit has a facilitator certification program that I completed, and now here I am, spending my days listening to folks so that they can find their ways.
I saw my first art car in 1986 or 87 – it was a little green Datsun with a dragon painted on the side. My first thought when I saw it was, “Yeah, I’m gonna do that.” It wasn’t even a huge light bulb, more like a recognition of a better way to do things. Fast forward to 1995 – I finally had a car that was all mine, and I could do what I wanted with it – it was a 1972 VW Bug. I sanded it down to bare metal, glued a bunch of dinosaurs and other toys on it, and attached a potato cannon to the roof. Tankgrrl was born – my first art car. My art cars have always been daily drivers- my only transportation – so not only does it have to pass art muster – it must also pass inspection! I drove that VW, adding more stuff to it every year, until I finally covered the entire car in glitter in 1999, and then again in 2000. (It takes about 20 – 30 pounds of glitter to cover a car.) I drove that car in my first Houston Art Car Parade (produced by the Orange Show in 1997). I’m now on my third car, and just participated in my 22nd parade.
Working for the past 2 years as part of the team that produces the parade has been exciting and challenging. As the artcar artist liaison, I am charged with herding 250 cats (artcars and their artists) between 7 – 10 events around the city during a one week period. I am the voice of the artcars during the parade planning, and I am the voice of the Orange Show to the artists. It’s a huge responsibility, but if I do my job well, then everyone has a great time.
Art cars are not unique to Houston, but we have the largest parade in the country that is devoted only to art cars. Before I made my first car, I made sure to attend the art car parades, and the art car ball – always the most fun each year in Houston. Back then, the parade had 75-100 entries – now it pushes the limit with 250 each year. School groups make cars, teaching students not only new ways to express creativity, but also how to work together towards a common goal.
For me, the Houston Art Car Parade is the most magical, most fun, most creative experience there is – and it happens every year – and it is different every year because the entries change, and the people change, and the costumes change. It is a truly inspirational event.
One of the ways that The Clarity Process helps to transform lives is that it gives participants tools to make changes. One of the things we talk about at Clarity Center is clearing out old wounds, so that we can make new decisions moving forward, instead of getting stuck in the same old patterns of behavior. This leads us to live the lives we want, instead of the lives we are stuck with. Creating and living our Big Fabulous Life is the goal, where we don’t keep replaying old stories and habits. Working with the artcar artists and the Orange Show lets me use all the parts of me and is part of living my big, fabulous life.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My main challenge is having enough time each day to do all the things that I want to do. Besides listening to people, and teaching classes about listening, I also help organize art cars at smaller events throughout the year, as well as attending art car events in other cities. I am also a painter and sculptor, so finding time to work on my personal art is important too.
Time management and self-care are key to doing so much. Also doing things that I love and that is super fun making it easier.
Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I’m most proud that I get to touch so many people’s lives in such significant ways. Literally hundreds of thousands spectators get to enjoy the Houston Artcar Parade. The numbers are smaller initially at Clarity Center, but I truly believe that when someone changes their life for the better it affects every single person that they come in contact with, so that’s quite a few lives there, too.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I guess the obvious thing I like most about Houston is that it is not uncommon to be driving down the street and see a giant chicken driving next to you, or a car covered in toys or a hand-painted car, unlike any design you’ve ever seen. Art cars make my day, and seeing mine every day even brightens my life. The main reason I keep making art cars is that it tickles me every time I see my car in the grocery store parking lot, or parked in front of my office. It’s tough to stay mad when you drive an art car.
I am also a big fan of the rest of the arts in Houston, which I find to be a very vibrant scene. From the Big Art – like the MFA and the Menil – to the more underground stuff like Catastrophic Theatre and Hope Stone Dance Company, not to mention the great murals that are popping up all over – sometimes, you have to know where to look, but Houston is rich with art.
The main thing that I don’t like about Houston is a tie between the giant cockroaches and traffic. But, at least in traffic, you might see a cool mural or sculpture or art car – with roaches, that’s all you get. More tree roaches.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.claritycenter.org and www.orangeshow.org and www.thehoustonartcarparade.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/CC4ANW and https://www.facebook.com/HoustonArtCarParade/
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