Keep Austin Weird - Austin's Cathedral of Junk is in danger

This was sent to me this morning - yet another amazing folk art environment is in danger of being torn down.

"The Cathedral of Junk is in crisis. The City of Austin is forcing Vince, the creator, to bring the Cathedral up to code. It's a massive undertaking and Vince can't do it alone. If we don't help, the Cathedral may have to shut its doors forever."

"And this is where you come in.

The Cathedral of Junk is an Austin cultural icon and a truly spectacular living art work. Help write part of the history of public art in the city ofAustin. If we work together, we can save the Cathedral of Junk, build new towers, and ensure that it can remain free and open for future generations.

Come spend a morning or afternoon with us saving the Cathedral of Junk. All you need are work gloves.

"Keep Austin Weird" shouldn't be just a bumper sticker. Tell your friends. Lend a hand.

Want to help? Email 2savethejunk@gmail.com."

Cathedral of Junk facebook

Save the Cathedral of Junk

4422 Lareina Drive

Austin, TX

Folk Art Site | Private property - Visible from the street

At one point in the 1990s, Vince Hanneman was in charge of the city's recycling program. And it worked out really well, because he could bring home more old bikes, TVs and appliances to add to the tiers of trash spiraling upward in his backyard. Not an untidy pile, but an architectural oddity he called his cathedral, a place where he could have coffee overlooking the yard in the morning, or parties at night, with its various rooms lit with Christmas lights.

Vince was, at the time, renting the property, which makes his achievement all the more notable. The sculpture did appear briefly in a Spy Kids movie, and in recent years Vince has begun selling a series of smaller works made from found objects too.

For more info, check out Detour Art

As seen on Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations