Off the Chain
MS Society's Art Bike 2011 is wheel good at Discovery Green
The notion of bikes-as-art-as-activism is gaining traction. London's Institute of Contemporary Arts' upcoming annual gala will include an auction of reappropriated bikes by renowned artists the likes of Damien Hirst and Ai Weiwei.
No need to cross the pond to enjoy the creative charity phenomenon — simply head to Discovery Green, where 15 art-infused bikes are on display as part of the Art Bike 2011 exhibition. Several of the artists were in attendance at Tuesday's unveiling, which represented a highlight of MS Awareness Week.
A stunning spectrum of creativity is on view, from Jim Brownd's ode to Duchamp and Giacometti, to Lorena Morales' psychedelic-hued two-wheeler.
"The artists this year were really charged with trying to symbolize what it means to move forward," said Debbie Pope, regional executive vice president of the MS Society. She adds,
A participant made a great analogy, that the artist is given a used bike, and you do the best you can with it. And as you can see, they've created these beautiful works of art. It's a lot like MS — if you have a diagnosis of MS, you have to make a choice about how you're going to live your life, moving forward, and that it can still be a meaningful and fulfilling life."
Among the contributing local artists is Glenda Araiza, who has a personal stake in the cause. During a moving address she explained, "I have a friend with MS, and I've been riding for the MS 150 for eight years in a row. I know that people that have MS and their families have a very hard time, but we still have to smile — because the cure is coming soon."
Art Bike 2011 is on view at the Bill and Andrea White Promenade through April 17.