2012 Pedalpalooza poster by Ben Guernsey.

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Detail of new mural. See it below.
(Photo: Cyclone Bicycle Supply)

One measure of a great bike city that you won't find in academic research papers or on various "Best Of" lists is the extent to which bicycles are represented in public art. Here in Portland, bikes are everywhere. Not just in racks and on the streets; but in murals, paintings, and sculptures throughout the city.

Some of the more well-known examples are the Community Cycling Center mural at NE Alberta and 17th, the Zoobomb Pyle at W Burnside and Stark, the "Share the Road" mural on the side of Hawthorne Auto Clinic.

The newest, large-scale bike mural in town is in northwest Portland, on the west side of the Cyclone Bicycle Supply headquarters at 2050 NW Vaughn. Cyclone's Director of Sales John Byfield got in touch with us recently with a photo of it and a bit more... (more...)

Mock-up of proposed Major Taylor mural on N. Shaver between Williams and Vancouver.

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One in a series of illustrations by Mike Joos.

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Scroll down for photos of the show.

A handful of lucky Portlanders were treated to quite a show on Friday night at the closing reception of The 2012 Bicycle Experience: Prototypes, Visions & Dreams.

In his first installation/show, Johnnie Olivan impressed everyone with his sculptures and other creations (there were also some excellent paintings by other artists). From the mini-bike 'Teeter-Totter' to the many-armed 'Bicycle Ninja,' the pieces all came together in very convincing way. We were also treated to a performance by the Sprockettes. More images from the event below... (more...)

One of the installations by Johnnie Olivan at The 2012 Bicycle Experience show currently going on at the Gallery at Port City on N. Williams and Thompson.

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"Alpenrose Women's Madison," a linocut by Amy Erickson on display at Bikeasaurus.

Our friends at Bikeasaurus — the fabulous bike-inspired art, gift, and accessory store at 1337 SE MLK Jr Blvd — sent us a note about the art coming to their "mini-gallery" this month. Check out the blurb from owner Becky Morton below and stop by the shop this Friday for the opening reception...

"Not sure if you knew about it, but BIKEASAURUS has a mini gallery in our lobby and we show bike-related art by different artists every month. You should come check it out sometime if you have a few minutes. We have monthly First Friday opening receptions (always 7-10 pm with free snacks and wine.) There is an opening this Friday and I'm really excited about the art, which will be linocuts by local artist Amy Erickson. I attached a photo of one of her prints I thought you might enjoy! The title is "Alpenrose Women's Madison.""

Still from Filmed by Bike
10th anniversary trailer.
(Film by Burk Webb)

Our much beloved local film fest, Filmed by Bike, turns 10 this year. To celebrate, fest founder Ayleen Crotty is looking to make it the biggest and best one ever.

Last week she released a special, 10th anniversary trailer. Check it out... (more...)

Northwest Portland based parts distributor Cyclone Bicycle Supply is looking for someone to paint a bike-themed mural on the side of their warehouse. Company staffer Ashley Brewer contacted us recently to share that they want to spruce up their "big ugly gray" headquarters building at NW 21st and Vaughn.

Here's more from Ashley:
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It's been a pretty crazy day (actually crazy last couple of days)... So I thought you'd enjoy taking a break and seeing some really fun bike art created by Lents neighborhood resident Tom Labonty. Check out his "Rat-Fiets" drawing below...

Drawing by Tom Labonty. See it on Flickr.

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Artist: Jason Hardy
(See more below)

According to artist and founder of The Canary Project Edward Morris, the Green Patriot Posters project was launched to "create stronger, more broadly appealing imagery for the sustainability movement". When he and his partners set up a website and asked designers to submit posters, they were intrigued by how many of them included bikes.

Green Patriot Posters is now a book co-edited by Morris and published by Metropolis Books (order it here and support BikePortland). Morris will be in Portland next week to talk about the posters and he was kind enough to get in touch and share a few of them with us...
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A reader sent along a few photos of some cool bike art on the walls of Taqueria Los Gorditos in Southeast Portland (1212 SE Division St). Check 'em out...

This is what happens when you bring a bunch of great, affordable bike art to Portland.
-Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

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A scene from Artcrank 2009.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Artcrank Poster Show is coming to Portland this Thursday (10/7). The event, billed as a "Poster party for bike people," was a big success when it came to town last year. This year we're doubly excited for its arrival because we've got a poster of our own in the show.

The Artcrank concept is so simple it's beautiful (both literally and figuratively). A bunch of talented artists share their bike-inspired work on the walls of the The Cleaners at Ace Hotel gallery space in downtown Portland. Proceeds from sales on the night of the show go to the artists and local non-profit Bikes to Rwanda. It's an excellent opportunity to showcase (and support) local art and our shared love of bicycling all at once. (more...)

An exhibition of 125 years of bicycles in
fine art photographs begins next week.
(Photo: Detail of Untitled (Girls on bicycles),
1946 by Herman Landshoff)

One of the fringe benefits of living in a healthy bike ecosystem is that bike-inspired art is all around us. On that note, a few items have crossed my desk recently that I though were worth sharing.

The first is a photo exhibition coming to Charles A. Hartman Fine Art (134 NW 8th Ave). Pedaling: Bicycle Photographs From Then to Now is a survey of photographs spanning 125 years. "In celebration of summer and the vibrant cycling community in the gallery’s hometown of Portland," Hartman has put together an impressive collection for this show. The exhibition features work from such noted artists as: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Antonin Gribovsky, Shinsaku Izumi, André Kertész, Herman Landshoff, Nathan Lerner, and others. Here's more to whet your appetite: (more...)

Rigoletto company members with their bikes
(Photos © Elly Blue)

We were pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago to receive an invitation to attend and blog about the opening night of Portland Opera's latest production, Verdi's Rigoletto, which opens this Friday, May 8th at 7:30pm at Keller Auditorium downtown.

Sounds great, we said, but what does this have to do with bikes? (more...)

An art gallery on N. Vancouver Avenue currently has a very special Cinelli bicycle frame on display.

Photos by Sally Murdoch/Artery PDX
(More photos below)

Sally Murdoch of Artery PDX (4114 North Vancouver Ave.) sent us over a few photos and info about the frame. She says it was painted by Barry McGee and that it's one of 50 produced as part of a collaboration between Cinelli and fashion label RVCA. Here is more about the bike:
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Crowds at the event last year.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The eighth annual Bicycle Film Festival (not to be confused with the Portland-grown Filmed by Bike fest) is set to return to Portland next week. On the schedule are two full nights of bike-inspired films (five programs total) that will show at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave) on December 12th and 13th.

Last year, I reported that the turnout for this fest was a bit depressing. For some reason, Portlanders didn't exactly welcome the fest with open arms (or at least the smallish crowds made it seem that way).
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Tomorrow night's "Opening Night Blowout Party" for the Oregon Manifest Handmade Bike Show (which opens tomorrow morning) will feature a special, six-year retrospective compilation of films from Portland's very own Filmed by Bike film festival.

Filmed by Bike founder Ayleen Crotty put together the screening with sponsorship from River City Bicycles. Crotty says they've put together a free, 45 minute show of all the favorites from Filmed by Bike over the years. (more...)

Ayleen Crotty at the opening
night of Filmed by Bike.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Filmed by Bike -- the bike film festival that took over Clinton Street Theater this past weekend -- raised $2,500 for the Multnomah County Bike Fair.

MCBF is the annual celebration of Portland's bike culture and community that draws hundreds to Colonel Summers Park for a mad-cap mix of unicycle-jousting, pedal-powered smoothies, bike crafts, Sprockettes, and more.

Filmed by Bike organizer Ayleen Crotty says MCBF "is looking pretty good this year," thanks to the 1,600 people that showed up for the eight screenings. Ayleen reports that on opening night she sold out both shows and turned away 300 others for lack of space. (more...)