The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) and the Arts Commission have partnered with representatives of Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and the University of Toledo (UT) to provide the opportunity for local artists to encourage the community's exposure and appreciation for the arts through the artistic enhancement of buses, bus shelters and stops throughout TARTA's service area.

TARTA sponsors bus wraps made from poetry written by Young Artists at Work (YAAW) students and designs created by BGSU students, which can be seen wrapped around buses across Toledo. The 2004 wraps were focused on a bridge theme, in recognition of the Maumee River Crossing project. Designs in 2005 centered on a jazz theme, in honor of Toledo-born jazz great Art Tatum. The jazz poetry contest was opened for public participation. In 2006, the theme for Art in TARTA was glass, in celebration of the opening of the Toledo Museum of Art's new Glass Pavilion. 

This year, 2007, the designs will incorporate the Art in TARTA open poetry competition's winning Restore Planet Earth themed poem.

I stood there as you washed over me
like a mother wraps her child in a warm blanket
you felt cool on my skin
and i felt pure again
and as quickly as you came you left
and there amongst the dust and debris
I caught a glimpse of beauty
Brian Watterson, 22

"The environmental theme has a lasting impression on all of us and it is an important theme to incorporate through arts. With the new testing of biodiesel in our transit buses, city and county-owned vehicles, the building of new ethanol plants and the new gas turbine on the county convention center, “green” buildings for the new downtown arena, carpooling, riding transit, riding bikes, etc it is time to think about the environment and how we are doing our part as a region to restore planet earth. We hope to educate and entertain the general public of its importance."     ~ Jason Binder

For more information, visit www.artintarta.org