Catalina Museum for Art & History will present Catalina Wheels: Featuring the Photography of Terri Bassett and Ernesto Rodriguez, on view Nov. 14, 2026 through April 11, 2027. Inspired by Bassett’s book Catalina Wheels, the exhibition offers a colorful look at one of the island’s most distinctive traditions: the small, unconventional and often creatively modified vehicles that have become an unmistakable part of everyday life on Catalina Island.
Catalina’s unique transportation culture is rooted in the island’s history. When Avalon’s infrastructure was established in the early 1900s, residents largely traveled by foot or horse-drawn carriage, resulting in the narrow roads and limited parking that remain today. With permits for standard cars and trucks limited and wait times that can stretch as long as 20 years, many residents instead rely on smaller vehicles, including carts and ‘Autoettes,’ adapting them in imaginative ways to suit island life.
Over the course of several years, Bassett and Rodriguez explored Catalina, photographing these distinctive vehicles against the island’s landscapes, historic landmarks and local businesses. What began as an exploration of the vehicles themselves soon revealed a broader story about Catalina’s evolving ‘cart culture’ and the residents whose creativity and personalities bring it to life.
For the first time, Catalina Wheels brings a selection of these photographs and stories together in one exhibition, inviting visitors to discover some of the island’s most delightful and unusual vehicles while gaining a closer look at the people and culture behind them.
“Catalina Wheels captures the creativity and individuality that are so central to life on Catalina Island,” said Sheila Bergman, PhD, Executive Director of Catalina Museum for Art & History. “By bringing these photographs into the museum, we are celebrating not only the island’s distinctive visual culture, but also the residents whose personalities and stories keep that culture moving forward.”
The photographs reveal how each customized cart becomes both a portrait of its owner and a lens into Catalina’s relationship with place, community and self-expression. Paired with sweeping island settings, the memorable vehicles create a vivid record of a local tradition that is practical, playful and deeply personal.
“I began Catalina Wheels as a way to document the wonderfully creative vehicles I encountered across the island, but the project quickly became a celebration of the people, stories and landscapes that make Catalina so special,” said Bassett. “I hope visitors come away seeing each vehicle as a small work of art and each portrait as a glimpse into the spirit of this community.”
Bassett is an award-winning designer and photographer who spent her career as a creative director in the learning and television industries. Her design work has been recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, The Telly Awards and the Broadcast Designers Association. She is the author, co-photographer and designer of the self-published book Catalina Wheels and holds a B.A. in fine art photography from Truman State University. She currently resides in Ventura, California.
Rodriguez’s relationship with art and machinery began during his childhood in southern Cuba, where he grew up surrounded by tools, heavy machinery and art supplies. Although formally trained as a psychologist and educator, his aspirations remained focused on art and photography. His photographic work is part of the Curator’s Collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is currently on exhibit at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Catalina Wheels is developed and curated by Terri Bassett and Frank Hein.
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