Pass the bike

Spring is in the air. Time to dust off the cobwebs, oil that chain, and tune up the bike. Even if you don’t own a bike or have the desire to ride one, you can still appreciate the culture and art of the bicycle and support the local community at Reno Bike Project’s upcoming bicycle art show.

The third annual We heART Bikes fundraising art event is one of RBP’s ways of fostering relationships and generating funds to keep their mission strong—redefining Reno as a bicycle-friendly community. Biking creates a culture, and this event is meant to celebrate that. RBP, which has been getting people on bicycles for the last three years, is teaming up with various arts, indie and non-profit organizations around Reno to bring you the latest edition of their annual fundraiser.

“In addition to being about bikes, we are about the arts and promoting the cultural and artistic aspects that come along with the cycling community, so we decided it would be a good idea to do a bicycle-based art show as an annual fundraiser,” explains Kyle Kozar, co-founder of the RBP.

This year, the event will take place at Studio on 4th and will include musical performances by the Bindle Stiffs and Frendo.

“This is the first time we’ve had it at a gallery venue that has a stage and music set-up, so we are going to have live music this year,” says Kozar.

The Holland Project, Sierra Arts and New Belgium Brewery are also sponsoring the event. (Free beer!) The exhibit will feature artwork from local and out-of-town artists.

“We’ve received two pieces from people that don’t even know us, that just heard about the show on the Internet and sent them in as a donation. So that’s different. We’ve never had that happen before,” says Kozar.

Here’s how the fundraiser works: Any art is accepted. However, it must be related to the bicycle in some way. All of the art is donated by the artists to RBP. Everything is for sale. RBP is asking for 30 percent of the sale price, but each artist can choose to give more—or all—of what the piece goes for to the organization. The artists set the price for their work, then people come to the opening event, meet people, talk, listen to music, enjoy the original creations, and bolster their art collection, all the while supporting the cause.

Last year’s event featured the work of a variety of local artists and pretty much covered the entire range of media. One artist, Jonathon Donald, created a complete set of furniture entirely out of bike parts—a chair, two side tables and a lamp. Other work included paintings, sculptures, photographs—one with a frame made from a bike chain—and even performance art. This time around, it promises to be just as eclectic and worthwhile. Artist Mark Grieve, who displays all kinds of art at Burning Man—you may be familiar with his bike arch—has submitted a Giacometti-esque sculpture made from bike parts for this year’s shindig. Textiles, functional and non-functional items, and hanging pieces will be featured in the exhibition, as well.

So, turn off your engines, get in gear, and ride on down to show your love for bikes, art, music and your neighbors. You’ll always have a place to park your bike when the RBP is involved.