Start Making Sense
Ask David Byrne of the Talking Heads what motivated him to install artistic bike racks in NYC and he'll surely tell you that it's time to 'Start Making Sense'. You take a need and a want and deliver on them. NYC needs more bike racks and residents and visitors want cool artistic installations to look at. And how hard would it be to design and make a handful of fun and functional bike racks. While Buffalo is still waiting for our racks to appear on the streets, NYC has scored some pretty rad models thanks to Byrne.
These are the types of simple efforts that go so far in any city. Each of the racks is different, meaning that unique districts could opt for racks that best suit their branding needs. A music note rack outside of Kleinhans perhaps? Or a shoe rack outside of Shoefly? We have the local talent to pull of these types of projects - Brad Wales for instance. And we have the Arts Commission back in gear to lend a hand to inspirational art projects. Combined with the effort to increase alternative forms of transportation (gas crunch and health issues), there should be a real push to get our own artists out on the streets and creating functional art (like this for example).
Thanks to everyone who forwarded the link to the New York Times article featuring Byrne and his artistic bike racks.
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sbrof
Would be nice.. but I would be happy with just getting some rings on the parking meter posts to start. Baby steps.
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galaxyjay
I'm liking it...
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scandy
I like the idea also, it seems to me that Steel Crazy would like a project like this.... I have no idea if they are interested but they have recently taken acouple of neat projects like this
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DJB
If funding is available, I am certain that the Art Department at Buffalo State (sculpture specifically) would be interested at looking at the project. I spoke with a friend who works with iron sculptures there months ago about this exact idea and he said if the money is there, they may be interested. I thought a Buffalo would work well - but each artist could design their own Buffalo bike rack. If there is grant money involved leave some contact info here and I'll forward it along.
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ToughintheStreets
very cool idea
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Hops
Cool to look at, sure, but are they practical? A few of them look like the bikes would just be laying in a heap without anything to support them. And not to be a "humorless feminist" but the one of the female outline is pretty offensive.
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Auburner
Not functional here in NYC for safety sake. The kids strip bikes piece by piece and sell them to the delivery guys, piece by piece. Nice idea though
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heathersmiles
OMG Hops, it looks like she has breasts. That is offensive! How dare anyone objectify the female form except women who do so every day. Too many of us insist on wearing too much make-up, forcing ourselves into uncomfortable underwear, push-up bras, overpriced clothes, and overdone hair just to objectify ourselves. We won't even leave the house for Wilson Farms without a 20 minute prep. Seriously, lighten up. We have curves for a reason, it shouldn't be offensive just to highlight the most basic facts of physiology.
On topic! This would be a great project for Larry Griffis. What is he up to these days?
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Auburner
heather David has a pee-pee but do not tell Hops
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crisa
Its a sure bet those boobs are most likely to be chained most often.
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crisa
...embarrassing, offensive, oh, and sexist. No wonder the male figure has his hands in his pockets!
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crisa
...and his head is scrunched down cause he knows school buses are going to pass by in a minute...the girls won't like it when the boys gawk!!!
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crisa
...Isn't that particular female pose copywrited; but with perky breasts, not topheavy ones?
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Brette
The one in the top center should be placed in front of Rick Snowden's house on Nottingham.
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