Iggy the Igniter

Iggy the Igniter IGGY is a 2021 Toyota Corolla (b. 8/10/22) that is Houston artist Sarah Gish's fifth "daily driver" art car. art project that I started in 2013. She has LOVE!

IGGY the Igniter is the fourth car that has been the mascot for my IGNITE YOUR LIFE! Everything on my cars is carefully thought out and has meaning. My second car for the project, PHOENIX RISING Art Car, was born out of a car fire in Phoenix, AZ -- so the story of the Phoenix bird has been central to my creations. The cars following PHOENIX RISING were also Phoenixes. The LOVE IGNITES! mobile was a re-working of PHOENIX RISING because I felt she needed a new identity that would closer align with my vision for honoring my brother. And IGGY rose from the "ashes" because I sadly totaled LOVE IGNITES! on the exact 9 year anniversary of the PHOENIX RISING car fire. It was difficult to start a new car last August, but I knew I had to! The number 9 is important to my project as a symbol of endings and beginnings – so I was spurred on by the idea that IGGY is not only a “Phoenix” but also a symbol of new beginnings. on her front windshield as a reminder to me that it is love that ignites lives. The theme of fire and ignition is important to me and has been used as inspiration on all the IGNITE YOUR LIFE! cars. Fires are 4 colors (yellow, orange, red, blue) so those are the only colors I use. They also correspond to chakras 1, 2, 3, and 5, with which I resonate as well. In addition to literal ignition by fire, I am also curious about what ignites people’s souls. I wrote "12 Ways to Ignite Your Life Daily" after interviewing hundreds of people about how they ignite their lives. Those 12 Ways are on the car doors as a reminder to me and to others about how to spark up your world. The Ways to ignite include morning meditation, communing in nature, and being of service. Doing the 12 Ways daily is a firewall to addiction, anxiety, depression, and isolation. I have used my list many times and it really has helped! The car has 43 hearts on it in honor of my brother Geoffrey Gish who died of alcoholism at 43 years old. He is the reason I created my IGNITE YOUR LIFE! project. I am dedicated to sharing about my own journey with mental health -- and IGGY is a springboard for that as I also tell my brother's story. I share my story of being sober since 1985 and being bi-polar and bulimic. I am open about all of that so that people realize that they are not alone and that they can get help. Having mental health challenges can enrich your life, not disable it. Lastly, IGGY is ignited with sunshine. There is a sun on the hood and on the trunk as the guiding inspiration for the entire car. It's powered by sun energy! This is a positive form of ignition, one that is good medicine. As Benjamin Franklin said “Keep in the sunshine” – focus on the good in your life. I teach about that as I write and speak about the car. My art and my life are always connected, and I am so happy to use this car as a tool to change the world!

-Sarah Gish / Houston, Texas / 2023

I never know what life will bring me! Around every corner is always something new…This week’s adventure was breaking my ...
04/08/2024

I never know what life will bring me! Around every corner is always something new…

This week’s adventure was breaking my left humerus bone (aka funny bone) that’s connected to my shoulder. I was at the gym and fell while stretching out on a bench before going swimming. 🤦‍♀️ I crushed the top of the bone (the knobby part) and it shot out at a 90 degree angle. This happened on Tuesday, 4-2-24. The number sequence is striking! I’ll never forget that date.

This was the worst time for that to happen, since I was heading into the final week of prepping for my FAVORITE event of the year: the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art’s Houston Art Car Parade!

FYI: the Festival starts next Thursday, 4/11 and the Parade is on Saturday, 4/13. You can see all the info at www.TheHoustonArtCarParade.com.

So, what to do???

First of all! Iggy the Igniter will still roll in the Parade at #112. My husband will drive her and I’ll be waving from the passenger seat. 👋🤠☀️

I needed to process what happened so I spent this week in reflection, healing, planning, re-configuring. I’ve had a ton of pain and lots of meds. I’ve had to be still (soooo hard!) and I’ve had to let people help me, especially my sweet hubby Stu. My dog Little Prince has been glued to my side. And I ate Chinese food and got a very perfect fortune….

So many friends have reached out to offer help & prayers. Thanks y’all! I’m especially grateful to Mary Tritico Wilson for her Emotion Code healing and to Florence Kosmala for her Reiki healing and to Ellen Hirs for her knowledge of falls (ahem), the name of her excellent orthopedic surgeon (Joshua Woody, M.D.), and her “reacher” gadget I am borrowing. I am sooo blessed to be surrounded with love.
🦋💕🦴

The night of my fall, a gardenia plant I had planted years ago in honor of my mother - in a beautiful pot of hers - finally bloomed. I believe she is saying hi and that all is well!

I pulled out my green handheld labyrinth and walked it with my working hand several times.

Kelly Blakley made me a groovy “Iggy” badge to wear at art car happenings I go to without my car. I’m figuring out how to do events when I can’t drive and I’m accepting the fact that I couldn’t finish my 2024 painting goals. Sighhhh.

I gave away our tix to the Art Car Ball - so our costume is all ready for next year!

I had to cancel some of my Young Audiences of Houston gigs. Sighhhh.

And I went to see David Best’s Temple this morning, which is an amazing structure being built at the Orange Show. I gave Diana X. Muñiz a tour of Smither Park and was so happy to see that the mosaic of my Phoenix Rising art car by Kimi Bainter is still there.

I’m finishing up an article for PaperCity Houston called “My Art Car Life” which we hope to publish this week (🤞).

And so it goes.

My surgery is tomorrow, Monday, April 8…check-in at 1pm. I’ll be under right about the time the historic eclipse happens. That seems pretty cool to me!

Please pray for an excellent surgery and a speedy recovery. Thank you! And please know that I’m sending love to all y’all. ❤️

One last thing: I’ve been posting “Healing Songs for Peace” from time to time, choosing songs from a big playlist that’s on my phone. Below is my choice for today:

“GRATEFUL. A Love Song to the World” by Nimesh Nimo Patel.

Enjoy! 🎶🙏☮️

https://youtu.be/sO2o98Zpzg8?si=rD9dFut8Mu5ooG4G

Address

1940-A Fountainview Drive, PMB 116
Houston, TX
77057

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+17134921173

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