Cross Culture: Art + Bike Love

Summer is flying by, predictably so.  And that means: back to mulling over ideas about the fall and how Bend Artists are going to participate in the upcoming cyclo-season.  My friend Sweet Pea (who, besides having a rad name, is a super sweet mover/shaker in the Bend Bike and art communities) sent me the following and asked me to share:

For the 4th year in a row, we'll be celebrating the sweet spot between creativity and cycling during the Halloween CycloCross Crusades in Bend and we'd like you to be a part of it. Each year, Cross Culture has been greeted with excitement and support from our local community as well as as the throngs of cyclists congregating in Bend for the weekend.  Expect even more of that good stuff this year as we build on the Crusades' theme of 'Cyclo du Soleil' with our own 'Art Party Under the Big Top.'

"What's that?" you say. Well... Deschutes Brewery will be setting up their big tent early so that we can hold an awe-inspiring art event to kick off the weekend Friday, October 26. Top notch artists (that's you) are being asked to produce limited edition posters which we will sell in at the art-party on Friday night and continuing on-line for the month of November.  The event introduces party-goers to some of the North-West's traditional ateliers, funky screen printers, and talented, design-oriented artists - providing access to affordable art and one a helluva good time.

Want in? Before 5pm on September 15, send us an image of your work that exemplifies your style. Tell us in a few words: your design idea, your medium of choice, and your process for producing the 21 copies. Submissions will be juried and you'll be notified by September 20.

Please send submissions to: crosscultureartparty@gmail.com  

This is the abbreviated letter- there are gory details that I left out (gory=Good in this case)

I have started sketching my piece already! Getting geared up (so many puns, so little time)! I heart bike culture in bend, although I am way too chicken to race. I stick with my townie bike.

lil' sketch from before the last bike/art season...

portraits of bicycles

My wonderful fellow artist Sarah Mik and I were having a conversation about the body of work I am painting for the Art+Bike=Love Crossculture Event for this weekends Cyclocross Nationals that are being held in Bend, and I realized that I am not painting bikes, I am painting relationships, I am painting people.

I am painting an empty tandem bicycle in mourning.
I am painting a tandem bicycle in the hope of future partnerships.
I am painting bikes circling in a beautiful desert landscape as representative of the community that I have so grown to love.
I am painting bikes in an ambiguous landscape (next to a river? next to a seaside? in the clouds, flying?) as a transition into my installation work for the show- bicycles made of feathers... (see last years bike made from tree branches) as a way to fly.
I am painting a bike bright red with a basket full of feathers on the front.
I am painting a portrait of a bike whose body language is eerily like kelty's.
I am painting a map for the bicycles to move forward, to find new terrain.

art+ bike Love

The PoetHouse was happening on Friday as the CycloCross Championships rode into town.  I spent Thursday night with my arms elbow deep in christmas tree branches, constructing an old fashioned bike...
I tried to channel Andy Goldsworthy, but I'm pretty certain he would have disapproved of my methods (while I used floral wire, Mr. Goldsworthy uses, well nothing but spit and thorns to make his masterpieces).

from top to bottom, left to right:

Gena Goodman Campbell's installation and view of the gallery.  Sean Anderson- "where we all began" (it glows in the dark).  Gena's " If I just Spread my Wings."  Jo Lundberg's Handlebar Series.  My installation: "it's not easy being green."  My painting "map my ride."

Alicia's installation called "dream cycle"  (made from clear tape!)  another painting of mine, Lori's installation (made from bike parts) and Tom Monson's painting.

Go! Magazine!

art+ bike Love

In a couple weeks, thousands of rowdy bicycles will ascend on our little town for a cyclo-cross championship.

The PoetHouse, along with the TBD Loft and many downtown business, is hosting a special mid-month Friday Art Hop, focusing on two-wheels for inspiration.  My collages will be on display at Clutch, but I am working on something slightly different for the  PoetHouse.    The development of my compass obsession has moved onto maps,  I have been creating whimsical little map narratives on paper and wood with pen and ink, and this week I will move into paint as well... A sneak peak:

Yes, it is backwards... Photo booth does that...