Contemporary Modern Art
The annual Bicycle Art exhibit at Denver International Airport is a product of many things: thoughtful curating and creative thinking, for sure, but also tourism, public money, boosterism and a love for the sport of biking.
Whatever makes art happen is OK with me, as long as it allows artists to think independently. There is one designed for each of the major stops of the race: Aspen/Snowmass, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Beaver Creek, Vail, Loveland, Fort Collins and Denver. Ivar Zeile of Denver’s Plus Gallery is the curator.
The Colorado artists, who get a bike to work with, let their imaginations run wild, deconstructing, adding on, rethinking. The objects on display are successful, all of them remarkably, because each captures a bit of dare and a lot of adventure, and that’s what the race is about as well.
It’s hard to pick a standout, but I like the bike for Steamboat Springs, which appears to be in motion, zipping through a snowy terrain; Loveland, which incorporates a dreamy, cloudy videoscape projected onto the bike; and Fort Collins, which replaces the usual water bottle with a fat, brown growler bottle of beer. New Belgium Brewery was involved, so yes, it’s a bit self-serving, but also yes, it’s quite clever and actually artful.
The Schultz piece, which turns a bike into a mobile hanging from the ceiling, might be the smartest move here, and perhaps the most fun. With bike art, fun counts.
Here is the list of artists and collaborators who did the work: Eric Ringsby, Thomas Scharfenberg, Kristin Stransky Mallinger and Audrey Seiler, Cultivator/New Belgium, Tobias Fike, Dmitrius Obergfell, Tank Studios, Pure Brand Communications and Stacey and Winston Schultz.
The bikes go on sale after the race with the proceeds going to local charities.
Proof of Concept Video:
This design was inspired by the Beaver Creek Stage of the US Pro Challenge. The bike was deconstructed to resemble a bird of prey, to also pay homage to the Birds of Prey World Cup Downhill Ski Race hosted annually at Beaver Creek.