Read more: Local, Mid Missouri Traveler
COLUMBIA, MO -- Some strange looking bicycles are popping up all over Columbia these days. It’s part of an event sponsored by the Columbia Art League.
KRCG’s Mark Slavit spins this story on this week’s Mid-Missouri Traveler.
They call it Artcycles 2008. Officials with the Columbia Art League had 11 artists transform old working bicycles in new works of art.
These silly cycles will be on display at various Columbia Businesses over the next two months. It’s a one-of-a-kind show. Diana Moxon, Columbia Art League "I think Lincoln, Nebraska had done something where bicycles were turned into works of art, but they no longer worked. Having the element that they still be working makes it one of the most unique projects in the country."
Each Artcycle has its own name. This one called Re-cycle, is an old Mercedes car chassis spot-welded to a bicycle frame. An artist named one the Cat Cycle. Another work of art has headlight eyes and whiskers.
“When the artists made these contraptions they had certain rules to follow including they had to be weatherproof and ride able.
They also needed to have just three-wheels, but not everyone follows all the rules. Artists Chris teeter and Wayne Leal went way past the three-wheel limit and created the Recycle-ator. It’s actually a combination of 12 wheels, four bicycles and two trash cans.
Chris Teeter/Wayne Teel, Artists "We had to engineer the steering to make this thing work. It works about eighty-percent like a real bike. It's only slightly dangerous to ride on. It's real fun going up hills."
These artcycles are part of a public art project for the art leagues upcoming Golden Jubilee Art in the Park event on June 7 and 8. The Artcycles will be star attractions of the opening day parade.
If you think you can build an Artcycle, you can enter to win $1,000 in a public competition at this year’s Art in the Park Event. For more information: www.artinthepark.Missouri.org
