Wendy Tippens	- Download MP3-

You either love the Love Van or you don’t.

Since Wendy Tippens covered her 1997 Nissan Quest minivan in swirling colors, mirrored tiles, metallic beads, glass rocks, pink-and-black fringe, pink-and-purple shag, crushed quartz crystals and glitter, she can’t hit the road without drawing applause — or jeers.

People take pictures or stop to say seeing her car just makes their day.

Some wave, honk or give a thumbs-up.

One friend adores the van. “I think it’s absolutely awesome,” said Becky Wilson.

Another friend has reservations. “I’m inconspicuous, but you can’t be inconspicuous in the Love Van,” said Gretchen Striebeck, a paralegal.

“I defend the Love Van,” she added. “But it’s like a really ugly puppy. You defend it because you love the puppy, but you don’t want to take it to PetSmart.”

Two years ago, Ms. Tippens, a Dawn School teacher, actress and Comedy Catch performer, grew weary of her green minivan.

“I thought ‘this is a boring van, and I hate it,’” Ms. Tippens said.

She scanned the Internet for examples of arty cars. Then, she coated the van’s exterior in paisley swirls and glued on glass beads, mirrored tiles and glitter.

Wipers, gearshift and door handles were encrusted in rocks and tiles; and the interior roof was lined with pink leopard cloth, dangling pink metal beads and pink-and-purple shag carpeting.

A waterfall of crushed rock, sequins, glass and crushed crystals cascade down the dash, fed by a stream of blue glass and tiles.

Bonded to the hood was the Love Van signature — a blown-glass heart.

A dollar-sign over the gas tank was removed (it was tacky, according to her best friend, Ms. Wilson). Spinning hubcap propellers fell off and were replaced with paint.

“I’m the only person I know who has a spare case of tiles and rocks and a silicone caulk gun in my car,” Ms. Tippens said.

Building the Love Van took about 40 hours and was “fun and relaxing,” Ms. Tippens said.

“It’s about what you feel when you create,” she said.

It also suggested a greater calling.

If George W. Bush splashed some sign paint on a Subaru with Queen Elizabeth, Vladimir Putin and North Korean Premier Kim Yong-il, would not world peace follow?

After painting the Love Van, Ms. Tippens said “sure.”

“If the world’s leaders could sit down and work on an art car together, we’d solve all the world’s problems. It’s so therapeutic — it really opens up a common thread,” Ms. Tippens said.

Despite its peaceful intent, calamity mostly reigns when the art car coasts into view. Children sometimes mistake the van for an ice-cream truck.

Others enjoy the ride.

“It’s really cool. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a prettier car,” said Scout Beam, an 11-year-old Grace Academy student and friend of Ms. Tippens’ daughter, Olivia, a 10-year-old who attends McBrien Elementary.

One cantankerous soul was so troubled by Ms. Tippens vision he penned a hate letter.

“Somebody left me a note saying ‘You are an epic idiot,’ ” Ms. Tippens said.

But she doesn’t dwell on hurtful thoughts.

“I tell Olivia: ‘Everyone’s not free enough to enjoy the Love Van.’ And I’m joking — but I’m kind of not,” Ms. Tippens said. “People need to express themselves, and if other people don’t like it, so be it — but don’t stop being who you are.’”

Her husband won’t drive the van. Bling is not his thing.

“It’s so threatening. You have no masculinity if you drive that,” Ms. Tippens said.

Art-car drivers can also say so-long to quick trips around town. Anything you do draws attention.

“You can’t speed in the love van. You can’t let your tags expire, and if people are rude to you, you can’t flip them off. You have to be always really nice,” Ms. Tippens said.

When the Love Van needed serious engine work six months ago, its owner, family and friends fretted.

“It was very traumatizing. I thought I was going to have a breakdown. It was like a family member (going to the hospital). People were like ‘how’s your van’ and I’d say ‘I’m sorry,’” Ms. Tippens said.

Painting the Love Van also led to a flurry of projects — painted backpacks, s, jackets and shoes.

“The school gave me a laptop to use, and I asked my boss ‘Can I paint this?’ and she said ‘No.’ Then I asked her if I could paint the desk, and she said ‘No, Wendy, no.’”

Still, the Love Van is unfinished. Interior walls, back seats and floor languish in shades of beige.

“The day when it’s actually finished will be a very sad day,” Ms. Tippens said.

But art, or at least the car artist, never sleeps.

“I can’t wait to do a mosaic nightscape on my bedroom wall. And I’d like to do the outside of my house — my husband’s for it, but he says ‘I have to see it first.’”