“Gear Sphere” sculpture coming to North Williams Avenue

It’s coming to Williams Avenue.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Artist Ivan McLean.

Portland’s busiest bike street is about to become even more bike-centric. Tomorrow at the corner of North Williams and Cook, crews will install the “Gear Sphere,” a sculpture made out of about 1,300 bicycle chainrings and rear cassettes.

The sculpture is by Ivan McLean, a renowned artist based in North Portland (his shop is in Delia on North Albina north of Rosa Parks Way). McLean was commissioned by LRS Architects to create one of his signature spheres with a bicycle theme in order to “tie into the bike corridor on Williams.” LRS plans to install the sculpture in a planter on the southeast corner of their Cook Street Apartments — directly adjacent to their short-term bike parking racks and a bike lane that sees more daily riders than anywhere in the city (see image below).

Concept drawing of Cook Street Apartments that includes the sphere.

I stopped by McLean’s shop this morning to get a closer look.

Human added for context.

The cassettes bulge out, giving the sculpture more depth and texture.

The sphere is six feet in diameter. McLean partnered with the Community Cycling Center to find the used chainrings. After he used all they could supply he was still several hundred chainrings short, so he ended up laser-cutting some of them himself. There’s a shaft in the middle to add stability and McLean has added several bicycle wheels to it.

While he’s added a glass-bead blasted finish to the parts, some of the chainrings and cassettes have already started to rust. McLean is fine with that. “It will be kind of cool with all the different textures as the rust comes through.”

You might not know his name but you have almost certainly seen McLean’s other work around town. He’s done several pieces for New Seasons Market, including the carrots on Vancouver and Fremont and the fish on the roof of several locations. McClean is also behind the road sign trash cans on Alberta Street; the blue, tree-inspired bike racks at the new Mason-Williams Apartments a few blocks up the road from the Gear Shere; the public benches along Highway 30 through Linnton (where he lives); and others. And if you’ve ever attended the What The Festival in the Gorge, McClean is responsible for the 70-foot long, fire-breathing dragon stage with the 30-foot pagoda that houses a DJ booth. (He’s also profiled in the current issue of 1859 Magazine.)

Speaking of fire, before I left I asked McLean if he had any other thoughts to share about the Gear Sphere. “I’m sad it doesn’t have any flames,” he said, with a smile. “Flames make everything better.”

Next time you’re riding up Williams, remember to look to your left as you cross Cook Street to steal a glance at this fantastic sculpture.

— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org

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