Bikes, art a winning mix at Artcrank show (Slideshow)

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

The Artcrank Poster Show was a smashing success last night. From the moment the doors opened at 5:00 until late into the night, people packed into The Cleaners at Ace Hotel to see a fantastic exhibition of bike-inspired art. The show, which started in Minneapolis in 2007, raised money for Bikes to Rwanda and helped support many local artists. The mission of Artcrank might help explain why this event is so popular in Portland:

Bikes are the world’s most fun and accessible way to get around. Posters are the world’s most fun and accessible art form. ARTCRANK brings them together.

Charles Youel had reason to smile.

Artcrank director and curator Charles Youel was beaming all night. He noted that both the size of the crowds and the level of quality in the posters was way up this year. At a mere $30 a piece, the posters were flying off the shelves. I wanted one of each, but had to limit myself to two of my favorites, “The Sprockelks” by Jennifer Levo and “untitled” by Mike King.

Did you go? What was your favorite poster? View my slideshow below for a look at a bunch more of the posters and the scene at Artcrank last night…