One of the most inspired Art Cars in the Pacific Northwest is Dawn Frasier's JAHMBI. She spun this tongue-in-cheek illusion of the South Seas in a vintage '61 VW Microbus which she discovered in sad condition in Olympia and restored lovingly. The vehicle is named after Jahmbi, a character from "Pee Wee's Playhouse." Jahmbi's interior features rush matting and evocative paintings of tropical foliage; a 6-foot plastic potted fern; a fully functional 8-track tape player with a library of surfer-rock tapes; and a plastic tiki shrine on the dash, complete with a chain of cowry shells dangling from the mirror. A bamboo surfboard rack and sun roof are functional amenities for Dawn, an avid surfer.

Dawn also created the intricate art car The Tortoise for a friend. Dawn recently moved to a bigger home with a large garage where she can create yet more art cars to keep Seattle observers in stitches. She is also a skilled painter of tapas, the traditional Polynesian bark paintings. Dawn has lived and studied in Fiji, Samoa, and Hawaii. The golden yellow patterns painted in a band around Jomby are authentic Fijian tiki designs. For sustaining this jokey theme with conviction, she won the first place trophy at the First Annual Car Art Show at Art Not Terminal Gallery in Seattle on September 6, 1997, and First Place/Interior at the 1998 Madcap Motorcade in Portland, Oregon, against some formidable competition. The peaceful and gracious vibe of JAHMBI echoes a beautiful soul.