For Kirk Strawn, Volkswagen buses have always meant freedom.
To him, they represent the 1960s movement of breaking free from society’s norms and hitting the open road.
It was this belief that attracted Strawn to the idea for The Walter Show, a large-scale community entertainment project that consists of four refurbished 20th century vehicles. Strawn constructed the vehicles with the help of a team that he calls a “tribe.”
He first saw what came to be known as Walter when he traveled to Jerome, Ariz. in 2003. Over the years, Kalliope, Big Red and Heathen joined Walter to provide entertainment to many in the Phoenix area.
Strawn likes giving the vehicles personalities and gives each car a name. The personification began with Walter.
“He has a story, he was powerful, he saved lives, he fell from grace and he got a second chance thanks to his friends,” Strawn said.
Walter is a Walter crash truck. Big Red is a giant Volkswagen Beetle that kept the original name given to the Walter crash truck from which he was created. Heathen is a fire truck that came from Heath, Ohio, and was named Heathen since he breaths fire.
Kalliope is a 1969 semi-trailer that was installed with 1950s stereo equipment, a 1970s disco sound system and modern subwoofers. All the artwork was done by women, including two ASU students.
Kalliope was named after a mythological muse, since she acts as Walter’s muse. She has modern equipment, horns like those at a racetrack, carbon dioxide cannons that will become propane for rockets, and a giant laser.
All four vehicles were refurbished and given a second chance. With blaring speakers, cryogenics, lasers and “giant donuts of fire,” The Walter Show is going on tour soon to bring entertainment across the country, Strawn said.
Strawn said that the purpose of The Walter Show is to encourage others to look beyond what is around them and to dare themselves to dream about possibilities. His themes of second chances and cooperation helped make this project a reality.
“People, when they work together, can do things that no one of them ever could have hoped to have accomplished,” Strawn said.
Growing up in Jefferson, Iowa, gave Strawn the tools to dream and work hard to attain his goals. He chose to pursue family medicine. Although he is not a practitioner, he owns PopHealthCare, a company in Tempe he started to give attention to high-risk patients before they go into hospice.
The Walter Show has been part of many events in downtown and around the Valley, including True Music Festival in Scottsdale, Circle K New Year’s Block Party in Tempe, Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade, APS Electric Light Parade and Parada del Sol.
Giving these vehicles a second life is important for Strawn. He believes in not accepting things the way they are. Instead, he thinks anyone can break free and do something no one would expect.
For example, rather than checking items off a bucket list, Strawn said he thinks about the things he won’t do. Some ask if certain things are possible, while Strawn believes in always asking, “Well, why not?”
Strawn recently opened Walter Studios at Roosevelt Street and Seventh Avenue, taking over a records and production studio. Inside, the walls are brightly painted and adorned with musical decorations. Strawn said the building has not been touched since it was bought over.
“It’s a ‘yes’ space,” said Downtown Voices Coalition Chair Tim Eigo, who has known Strawn for more than 10 years. “I am excited to see how Kirk and the tribe transform the exterior of Walter Studios to reflect the creativity within. I’d vote for much neon, a la Kalliope.”
Some of the vehicles are stored in the warehouse at Walter Studios. Kalliope is too large to fit, so a portion of her needs to be removed so she can sit comfortably in the back where a giant disco ball hangs from the ceiling.
Walter Studios recently hosted Peace Pi, a pie fight for peace. At this event, the fights were symbolic for the barriers that make it difficult to achieve peace. Brightly colored non-toxic, non-edible pies were available to throw at people’s faces. Each of the six colors used stood for different causes, from education to nutrition to global issues.
Peace Pi founder Robert Farthing met Strawn in 2011 at Burning Man and immediately knew he wanted to become part of his team. Farthing said he sees Strawn as “the Divine Child.”
“He has this really remarkable just can-do, awesome spirit that comes from a child’s-eye view of the world where everything is possible,” Farthing said. “Everything he does is with this authentic genuine spirit.”
Strawn admitted that critics might say he cannot tell anyone “no.” He says that it hinders his life at times when he becomes overwhelmed with too many projects. His advice is to always try to balance everything out.
The future Strawn envisions for The Walter Show is to create a virtual reality where others can dance with anyone they would like, even if they are halfway across the world. Through the use of holograms and video, Strawn sees potential in making these visions a reality.
“You should be able to dance with someone who is in Tempe, or Paris or China,” said Strawn.
Living in Iowa, Strawn never imagined he would be part of an entertainment revolution, but today, he cannot image his life another way.
“Few community-based initiatives make you smile every time you think of them,” Eigo said. “But Kirk’s creative collaborative is entirely smile-based.”
Contact the reporter at gkorina@asu.edu
