SpongeBob 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race to Feature
70-ftX900-ft KAWSBOB Mural and Branded Trophy
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Nickelodeon today announced world-renowned artist KAWS is reimagining
SpongeBob SquarePants for the SpongeBob 400 Sprint Cup race on
May 9, at the Kansas Speedway. Through this collaboration, KAWS will
bring his dynamic, and avant-garde, interpretation of the most absorbing
personality on all TV to NASCAR fans across the country. Elements will
feature the artist's KAWSBOB character and include a custom 3-ft. trophy
and a 70-ft. x 900-ft. mural spanning the track's backstretch.
"I have a great appreciation for the aesthetic of SpongeBob. The
character's positive outlook and the shows vibrant colors have inspired
me to create several pieces over the years," said KAWS. "The SpongeBob
400 Sprint Cup presented a unique opportunity to bring KAWSBOB to life
in a big way. I'm excited to reinterpret this iconic character in
several different ways throughout the race and share my appreciation of
SpongeBob with NASCAR fans."
On May 9, the world's most famous sponge and his friends will take over
the Kansas Speedway and will appear on paint schemes for five NASCAR
Sprint Cup drivers: David Ragan in the No. 55 Aarons/SpongeBob
SquarePants Toyota Camry; Greg Biffle, cruising down the track in the
No. 16 Cheez-It/ Patrick Star Ford Fusion; Casey Mears helming the No.
13 Squidward Tentacles Chevrolet SS; Ty Dillon in the No. 33 Circle
Sport Racing/Plankton Chevrolet SS and Michael McDowell, driving the No.
95 WRL/Larry the Lobster Ford Fusion. Additionally, Ben Kennedy will
also join in on the fun when he takes out his No. 11 Local Motors/SpongeBob
SquarePants Toyota Tundra for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
race at Kansas Speedway on Friday, May 8.
The Nickelodeon Kids Zone will also be set up for kids and families in
the Kansas Speedway Fan Zone and will feature appearances from the SpongeBob
SquarePants costume characters, a SpongeBob SquarePants photo
station and more.
Brooklyn-based, KAWS is a renowned artist who exhibits in museums and
galleries internationally. KAWS's art stands within the historical
continuum that began with Pop Art, straddling the line between fine art
and global commerce. His artworks are immediately recognizable as he
transforms iconic pop culture characters into thought-provoking works of
art. His work possesses a sophisticated humor while utilizing a refined
graphic language that revitalizes figuration with big, bold gestures and
keen, playful intricacy. KAWS will participate in an outdoor group
sculptural exhibition, ARTZUID, Amsterdam opening on May 22nd, while a
mid-career survey of his work is scheduled to open at the Modern Art
Museum of Fort Worth in the fall of 2016. Follow @KAWS on Instagram.
Since its launch in July 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has emerged
as a pop culture phenomenon. The series has been the most-watched
animated program with kids 2-11 for more than 13 consecutive years. SpongeBob
is seen in over 185 countries and translated in more than 50
languages. The character-driven animated series chronicles the nautical
and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimist
and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends.
Nickelodeon, now in its 36th year, is the number-one entertainment brand
for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first
in everything it does. The company includes television programming and
production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer
products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's
U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has
been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years.
For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com.
Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks
of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150507006519/en/
Nickelodeon
Thamar Romero
Thamar.romero@nick.com
or
Debby
Robinson, 312-505-4336
Drobinson@vmg1.com
Source: Nickelodeon
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