Bicycles! form and function
When I was in high school I spent more time ogling bike catalogs than studying. I was drawn to the art and science of bicycles. I liked riding too and did a fair amount of racing. I subscribed to bike magazines and learned about the Tour de France and the Alps and Pyrenees, form and function, I learned about strengths of ferrous metals, I learned about health and nutrition. But mostly I just liked to look at bicycles. In a big rural Maine high school that labeled me as weird, at least by those who noticed which was practically nobody. Of course there were the lycra riding shorts ... I still ogle bikes and am fascinated with the whole evolutionary process I have witnessed over the last 30 years in bicycle design. High end professional level bikes used to cost $1500 in 1985. Now they cost 7 to 10 k. Bikes used to be made out of steel with lugs holding the tubes in place (mine still is) Now they are also made from titanium and carbon fiber. High end bikes used to weigh 22 lbs, now they weigh 15 lbs. Oh and mountain bikes didn't exist in 1985. Here are some ogle worthy images.
A Campagnolo Super Record equipped Bianchi (Italy) from about 1985
Modern Bikes:
New Paintings
Charlotte (age 4) and I did some painting this weekend and made a brilliant mess which we cleaned up before mom got home. Maybe this will be the year when I get back to my art in earnest, develop some ideas and maybe go big!?!
"Finally" by Dana Wigdor
This is a painting from a series by Dana Wigdor that I have long admired for its "Bluetime" feel and its sense of fun. It now resides in my office. I find that art that means the most to me is very strong on mood rather than emotion. Often, art makes me feel the urge to explore my own creativity. I left art school after just one year due to the in-bred nature of the particular school I was going to. I realized that I was better off pursuing an alternative education path and keeping my art personal. I haven't done a very good job of pursuing my art outside of architecture. (or my music either) Maybe it is time to get some canvas and brushes.
