THE WAGON MAN
Sitting on a hill looking across at bush land is an Artist’s dream Workshop, a Treasure Chest of Bowtop Gypsy Wagons, meet Allan, the Wagon Man.
In the midst of all this craziness and months in Lockdown I’m fantasising about hitching one of these puppies to my towbar and…OUTA HERE! Pull up under a tree by a lake, do a little fishing, and UNPLUG. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for thinking outside the box and breaking into a Gypsy way of life. I can picture myself working on a custom build with Allan to create the perfect mobile studio then rock up to markets and steal the show! It’s heartbreaking to see so many freelancers and small businesses having to close shop, this could be the perfect freelance alternative.
The Tiny House movement has people liberating themselves from mortgages and opting to live debt free. In just eight weeks this dream could be a reality for yourself or park it up for your family or Airbnb guests with a small or large Bowtop Wagon.
After spending time talking to Allan, I came to realise how much can be done to deck out the interior while maintaining the look and feel of a Romany wagon or maybe a little Steampunk twist could be cool.
Authenticity is an integral part of the Australian culture stripped away as our financial pressures herded us into buying cheap Chinese mass produced ‘everything’. Let’s turn that around and now is the perfect time to be authentic with each other and retrieve our quality of life. Bring it home by supporting each other now more than ever, buy Australian made and make our forefathers proud, lest we forget. The heart and soul that Allan and Karly put into their work, took me back to that time. This is our way of life, looking out for each other and Allan does just that by engaging local Artists in these builds as much as possible, keeping the Australian spirit alive and so can you.
Contact these guys at bowtopwagons@gmail.com and check out their work at www.bowtopwagons.com.au and view Allan’s interview can be seen on my YouTube channel.
NOMINATE
your favourite Artist to be featured in next month’s Art Escape.
REACH ME! artscolumnist@gmail.com
Take care out there,
Albatross
The Art Escape.