In order to participate in the 2024 Houston Art Car Parade, about 14 Art Car Club members raised $475 at a car wash on Oct. 15 at Firehouse Subs on Bellaire Blvd. 

The 25-plus club members plan to decorate a car from February to March, and ultimately present it in the April 13 Annual Houston art car parade. The club hopes to ultimately raise $500 by February. Co-President Simone Goffney, sophomore, said the club will create a theme for its car and then connect that theme to a service project.

“So for this year, we’re thinking about decorating a car with paper cranes, and then we’re going to connect that to a volunteer project,” Goffney said.

Sophomore Zachary Barnett, who was at the car wash, brought a speaker and blasted K-Pop music during the car said he enjoyed the interaction with the customers. 

“I feel like having my friends fool around and talking to people was going to be the most rewarding experience,” Barnett said. “I remember I had a yelling conversation with one of our non-paying customers while I was advertising and dancing to ‘Super Shy’ by New Jeans.”

A first-year member, Barnett was attracted to the opportunity of completely transforming a car.

“I was inspired by how much artistic creativity is allowed in Art Car because you can do anything with a car, and then just slap it on the road and say, ‘This is art,’” Barnett said.