The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum's blog for Bike Rides: The Exhibition
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Behind the scenes at The Aldrich: Intersection Magazine uses Bike Rides: The Exhibition as a backdrop for their photo shoot.
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Miguel serves piraguas, or flavored shaved ice, from Pimp My Piragua during Bike Fest.
Artist Jonathan Brand recently gave a talk at The Aldrich as part of the Brown Bag lunchtime series. He talked about his artwork, why he creates things, and how. There were two points in his talk that really stuck with me. One, he creates the things that keep him awake at night and knows he’s done with a subject when it no longer stops him from sleeping; two, that his sculpture Fallen had a few incarnations before it became what it is today. I was impressed by the level of effort that went into both building the machine which he used to draw/sculpt his childhood bike and the editing of his idea until it fully fit his purpose.
The video clip below is a portion of this talk.
- Gina Furnari, education assistant
Studio Tractor, Cotter Pin Bike Rack (digital rendering), 2009 Courtesy Peter Kirkiles design + fabrication, Kent, CT, and Studio Tractor Architecture, Brooklyn, NY
As bicycles become a more common mode of transportation, the architecture to park and protect them—the bike rack—has become increasingly ubiquitous, particularly in urban areas. However, the recent revolution in bicycle design has not been reflected in a proliferation of bike racks that combine useful function with high aesthetics. Stripped down to its core, the bike rack provides two basic functions: a support structure that keeps bikes upright, and a solid armature for securing bikes from theft. Included in The Aldrich’s exhibition are three radically different takes on bike rack design, all of which have been installed outside the Museum for cyclists to use during the duration of the exhibition. Designer and fabricator Peter Kirkiles has teamed up with Studio Tractor Architecture and designed a rack based on a rigid geometry. Artist and fabricator David Gelfman has made the steel Bike Crab, a radial design that is based on the form of the common blue crab. Artist Tom Sachs has contributed a bike rack made from “found” wood from a New York City Police barrier that states, “These Bikes are Being Watched, You are Being Watched.”
–Mónica Ramírez-Montagut, curator, and Richard Klein, exhibitions director
Curators of Bike Rides
Subodh Gupta, One component of Three Cows, 2003 Courtesy of the artist Shumita and Arani Bose Collection, New York
Guy Ben–Ner, I’d give it to you if I could but I borrowed it. (video still), 2007 Courtesy of the artist and Postmasters Gallery, New York
Guy Ben-Ner’s video, I’d give it to you if I could but I borrowed it., perfectly captures this dilemma. In the video the artist, along with his two children, enters a gallery in an art museum containing classic pieces of twentieth-century art. The works by Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Jean Tinguely, and Joseph Beuys all use bicycle parts as materials for the compositions. While the museum guard sleeps in a chair around the corner, Ben-Ner and his children disassemble the iconic pieces and reclaim the bicycle parts to make a real, functioning bicycle, which they then ride out into Muenster’s sculpture park.
Not being allowed to touch the artwork adds to the experience of the exhibition. We are forced to answer our queries through visual clues and by engaging in discussions and asking questions. Why is a bicycle in an art museum? What connection exists between the works of design and the works of fine art? Is function forgotten in favor of aesthetics? Can function inform art?
In thinking about and asking this second set of questions, we can read deeper into our relationship with bicycles—and learn something about the world around us.
- Joseph Kopta, museum educator, and Gina Furnari, education assistant
Richard Sachs, “–sawa” Pista Series Track Bike (Red), 2007, Courtesy Richard Sachs Cycles, Warwick, MA
The most critical part of the bicycle is the frame, because it defines the bike’s intended use, the size (and temperament) of the rider, as well as the bike’s primary aesthetic. The spectrum of frame-making extends from the inexpensive, mass-produced commercial bike world to the designers in this exhibition, who focus on advances in frame technology and customization. Customization and a specific material performance—materials like titanium, carbon fiber, steel, and bamboo—are two major characteristics of the bicycles of the future. The titanium frame is represented by Seven Cycles, the carbon fiber by PARLEE Cycles, the metal by Richard Sachs, and the bamboo by Bamboo Bike Studio. These are all local designers with international markets and reputations.
Bamboo Bike Studio (Justin Aguinaldo, Sean Murray, Marty Odin), Cargo Bike, 2009, Courtesy Bamboo Bike Studio, Brooklyn, NY
–Richard Klein, exhibitions director, and Mónica Ramírez-Montagut, curator
Curators of Bike Rides
The Bike Rides exhibition at The Aldrich includes work by the Mexican Pride and Puerto Rico Schwinn Club troupes. Their customization is based on individual expression—their understanding that the bicycles are an extension of their personalities—rather than the actual road performance of the bikes.
Mexican Pride (Vicente Olivares), Confites Lowrider Bike, 2008, Courtesy Mexican Pride/Vicente Olivares
Continue reading ‘Bicycles: An Extension of the Personality’
Thanks to every one who came out to Bike Fest: it was an amazing day!
One of the great things about this exhibition is the community it taps into. Yesterday (October 4, 2009) brought tons of people together all of whom are inspired by bicycles. This blog post is a record of some of the wonderful things that were created and enjoyed.
The amazing Spin Art Bicycle:
Plaid asked visitors, “What Makes You Happy?” with Yahoo’s camera-equipped Purple Pedals Bike!
The Aldrich will mark the opening of Bike Rides: The Exhibition by hosting Bike Fest—a celebration of all things bicycle on Sunday, October 4. The festival will feature live bike performances by Jeff Lenosky; Cannondale demos; tune-ups by the Bike Doctor; primp-my-bike contests; prizes; organized bicycle rides; helmet fittings; family activities; an appearance by Yahoo!’s Purple Pedals Bike; refreshment tents; and MORE throughout the day.
Video – Jeff Lenosky jumps over 3 people @TheAldrich
For an exclusive preview, join us for Le Grand Tour on October 3, the highlight of our social and fundraising calendar. Le Grand Tour features unforgettable performances directed by one of Cirque du Soleil’s artistic visionaries, dinner in the galleries, and the company of some of today’s art world luminaries. Plus, guests will bid on two Cannondale bikes specially customized by Aldrich artists Kysa Johnson and James Prosek.
Welcome to The Aldrich Museum’s blog for the exhibition Bike Rides, on view at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum from September 26, 2009, through January 3, 2010. Between now and then, we’ll be writing weekly posts about the art and ideas considered in the exhibition. You’ll be hearing many voices on the subject of bicycles, from those of the artists whose work is featured to those of curators, designers, cycling advocates and bike aficionados. We also hope to hear from you—please share your thoughts with us!
Crossing Cultures with Bikes
Today, bicycles represent different values in different societies and cultures, yet across the world they are increasingly gaining relevance.
Cai Guo-Qiang, Illusion of Childhood (detail), 2008
In countries like China and India, bicycles play a prominent role in the informal economy. Continue reading ‘Join the Discussion’
