The Race Is On!

So the first official Tour de Trash - Recycle Bicycles is on!

If you ever thought the wheels in your head were spinning, wait until you see the kaleidoscope of materials, colors and old bicycles that will be unveiled at the Indian Wells Arts Festival, April 4-6. As part of the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery's participation, the Tour de Trash - Recycle Bicycles more than 25 "new" sculptures will be on exhibit, created from more than 100 nonfunctioning bicycles and/or bike pieces, fragments and parts!

My idea behind the project came from a spring trip last year to Chicago where all along Michigan Avenue, bikes had been painted by kids from an after school program. That's when the wheels in my head started spinning! How could I translate a similar project for the Coachella Valley? By recycling, of course, but with a twist.

Recycle Bicycles uses only nonfunctioning bikes or parts because there are great programs that refurbish functioning bikes and give them a whole new life with new cyclers, primarily kids. Locally you can donate a bike not exactly ready for sculpture to Wheels For Kids of the Desert at http://Wheels4kidsofthedesert.com. Internationally Bikes Not Bombs (http://www.bikesnotbombs.org) promotes bicycle technology as a concrete alternative to war and environmental destruction. For parts that are not reused, like a leftover greasy chain, you can easily recycle and become a rebicycler with a program similar to cell phone and printer cartridge recycling programs by going to http://www.resourcerevival.com/recycle.htm.

Featured in the Tour de Trash are sculptures by artists, kids, clubs and individuals. All the bikes used for the sculptures were donated by valley police departments and citizens. The Tour will start in Indian Wells and then head onto stops in Cathedral City, Idyllwild, Indio and Palm Desert during April and May. Along this artistic bike trail of sorts, you will see the very abstract, animal inspirations, color clashing and even relaxing pauses. I think that you will see a sculpture for every mood! I encourage you to check the sculptures out and let me know what you think and which one is your favorite Recycle Bicycle.