You’ve been meaning to fix that old bike in the shed, but let’s face it, two years have passed and you haven’t even moved it more than a couple feet, let alone to the repair shop.
At this point, we both know the days of that bike hitting the open road are long gone, so it’s really become more of a nuisance than anything because it just takes up valuable space. But you don’t want to just throw it away – both for cost and sentimental reasons – so what do you do with it?
We suggest donating it – to the Big Bicycle Project. Pam Tarbell, owner of Mill Brook Gallery and Sculpture Garden who is organizing the project in conjunction with Ryan Linehan at the Kimball-Jenkins School of Art, came up with the idea for Concord to display bikes around town, but doesn’t take credit for it.
“My son went to grad school at Northwestern and we were walking around downtown Chicago, and I saw all these bikes decorated,” Tarbell said. “Other people and places have done it; it’s not an original idea.”
But it is new to Concord. The plan and hope is that starting in May and going though October, places like Main Street, White Park, the traffic circle in Penacook and other spots will display painted old bikes and pieces of art created from bike parts.
“People can put the bikes in their front yard,” Tarbell said. “There’s no limit to what we can do.”
That’s why we’re telling you about it now, because the project needs anyone interested to sign up.
Project organizers need old bikes and parts to use, as well as residents, groups and organizations to sign up to create a work of bike art or simply paint one in an interesting way.
“Just any old junk bike, from tricycles all the way up,” Tarbell said. “They’re either going to be painted or torn apart.”
In conjunction with the project, there will be bike-related events throughout the warmer months. Kimball-Jenkins is planning a vintage bikes exhibit in the mansion. There’s talk of bike parades, bike safety for children and races. Red River Theatres also plans to show some bike movies. So if you don’t have an old bike or don’t have time to create a piece, you can sign up to volunteer at one of the events or even create a bike-themed event.
“We’re open to any new ideas,” Tarbell said.
There’s no judging or prizes for the best bicycle creations, but the top ones will land on Main Street. It is kind of the main attraction in the city these days.
“There’s a lot of examples on the web of what people have done,” Tarbell said. “There’s no limit. It will let people think outside the box.”
To donate a bicycle or bicycle parts for others to create their masterpieces, call Linehan at 225-3932 or email bicycle@kimballjenkins.com to schedule a drop-off.
“We can pick them up if they can’t deliver them,” Tarbell said.
If you want to volunteer, call Tarbell at 226-2046 or email artsculpt@mindspring.com.
Visit kimballjenkins.com/ big-bicycle-project for more info and the list of events as things get scheduled.
“It will be fun to see what happens,” Tarbell said.
