Bryan Taylor tells his story of Brian Bryan, and how the Brother Brian Bryan Memorial Award came to be:
BrianBryan was one of Houston's true eccentric secrets. A participant in the very first Houston Art Car Parade way back in 1988 with his entry of "101 Howdys",
I knew BrianBryan primarily through his Club God ads. He would sell you a certificate for just $4.95, guaranteeing you salvation with no additional fees, church visits or declarations needed. His phone messages were funny, clever and always somewhat topical.
Later BrianBryan (not his real name and although I know it now, it just doesn't seem important so...) became famous again as the "Tie Guy". He would always have a bag of ties on him and would give them out willy nilly to any who would accept them.
He also began to make things with them, such as a car cover for his VW Bug. Clothes, and fashion accessories were worn by many in the Houston area at one time or another.
His yellow VW covered with odd geometric shapes and random squiggles was a constant mainstay on Houston by-ways for well over a decade. A daily driver by the strictest definition BrianBryan walked the walk and talked the talk.
We lost Brother BrianBryan in '03 and he is still greatly missed. Some of Houston's glamour of oddity suddenly dimmed a bit and has not shined as brightly since.
In '04 HACK created the Brother BrianBryan Memorial Award to recognize the meritorious service of a member of the Klub for devotion to the Klub, art cars and going above and beyond in promoting the positive ideals of an art car daily driver lifestyle to the community at large.
The award is presented at the Parade Awards' Ceremony, and the recipient gets the trophy (a most tremendous trophy made by Johnny Rojas, with car affixed with ties by Nicole Strine) for a full year, then they get to hand it over to the next year's winner.
The best example of HACK's highest honor and recognition, the Brother BrianBryan Memorial Award (BBBMA) has already been awarded to Rebecca Bass 2004, Nicole Strine 2005, Rev Bryan Taylor 2006, Kenny Browning 2007, Shelley Buschur 2008, Ben Gibson 2009, and this year's winner, Johnny Rojas, 2010.
|
|
