Art Crank

By Dave Mable

I…The forests we so admired in summer seem still more beautiful and sublime in this mellow autumn light. Lovely starry night, the tall, spiring tree-tops relieved in jet black against the sky. I linger by the fire, loath to go to bed.

John Muir, “My First Summer In The Sierra”

An artist’s mission is to bring you into a moment, to invoke emotion, a feeling. He or she seeks to take you to a place, a time, to bring you to the moment. Artists use many means to translate their messages to you. A pen and paper, a computer keyboard, a canvas and brush, or the lens of a camera can all be media used by the artist. John Muir, quoted above, used pen and ink to invite his readers to sit by the fire or hang in a tall pine during a raging mountain storm with him. Ansel Adams used the lens of his camera to do the same.

Cycling has often been described as a form of art, in and of itself. Phillip Barron, an award-winning digital media artist and scholar, said, “Bicycles are beautiful, worthy of artistic expression, because of their simplicity and the humanity they necessarily convey.”

Charles Youel, founder of Artcrank, A Poster Show For Bike People, has always had an eye for good design. Youel, long-time creative director in advertising in Minneapolis, first had the idea for Artcrank at a political poster show when he ran into Minneapolis bike shop owner, Gene Oberpriller. As Youel and Oberpriller got to talking — this idea that bikes and art compliment each other so well — it seemed only natural that the two should host a poster show of and for bicyclists. A few months later, in 2007, One On One, Oberpriller’s bike shop, hosted the first Artcrank.

The initial show was such a success that Youel started receiving calls from others around the country, wanting him to host a poster show in their city. First Denver, then on to San Francisco, Portland, St. Louis, and now, Des Moines!

On May 8, Instinct Gallery at the Des Moines Social Club will host the opening night of the 20-day show. Artcrank, as mentioned above, is a poster show for bike people. Thirty artists are selected from in and around the host city. Each artist is to design a simple bicycle-oriented poster from which 30 copies will be reproduced. Each poster is then sold for $30 each during the exhibit. Youels’ mission with Artcrank is to showcase bike-themed poster artwork that people can enjoy and afford to take home.

The Des Moines Bike Collective serves as both the host for and beneficiary of this unique art exhibit. Carl Voss, President of the Bike Collective, said, “We’ve got a very cool evening planned for opening night, thanks to the support of some awesome sponsors and, of course, a super-talented roster of 30 artists cranking out original poster artwork.”

Some of the artists include our own Brian Duffy. Also selected for the inaugural Des Moines show include Sally Cooper Smith, Danielle Ameling, Jacob Zweibohmer, Kari Moyer and 25 others. Each artist is charged with creating a unique poster design that can be screen printed in two to three color prints that will be available for viewing and sale during Instinct Gallery hours from May 9-29. Cartoonist Brian Duffy is excited to explore a new medium and showcase his broader talents as an artist. “It (Artcrank) is a great opportunity to continue to combine my passion for cycling and art, as well as show that I’m more than a cartoonist.”

Artcrank is not the only bike-related activity happening during the month of May in Iowa. Iowa’s Governor, Chet Culver, is endorsing the League of American Bicyclists efforts to promote cycling as a healthy alternative to driving a car by declaring May as “Bike Month” throughout the state.

Organizations around Iowa will recognize Bike Month with a wide array of activities and events. The festivities kick off in Des Moines on May 1 with a ride to the Downtown Farmers Market with the Bike Collective providing valet bike parking from 7 a.m. to noon. From 1-3 p.m. the Coolest Bike In Town contest will be held at El Bait Shop. A panel of experts will judge bikes based on, well, what they think is cool. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories.

Biggest Looser at-home winner, Rebecca Meyer and local radio personality Colleen Kelly will be hosting an evening for the ladies at the Wheels and Heels event at Jasper Winery on May 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. A casual ride and a fun active-wear fashion show will highlight the social evening.

In its seventh year, Bikeiowa.com is again promoting May 17-21 as Bike To Work Week. In 2009, 2,400 people registered and agreed to ride their bikes to work at least one day that week. Organizers are hoping for even more this year.

On Wednesday, May 19, several towns around Iowa will be hosting a “Ride of Silence” to honor those who’ve been injured or killed while cycling America’s public roadways. In addition to honoring those, these rides are meant to raise awareness for safe bicycling and to promote a “share the road” mentality for all.

Other than walking, the bicycle is the most widely used form of transportation on Earth. The bicycle, in its simplicity as a machine, is a work of art. Cyclists from around the state and nation will be banding together during the month of May to celebrate the bicycle and all that it stands for. Information on all of the events above, and more, can be found at bikeiowa.com.

Bike art courtesy of Art Crank. www.artcrankpostershow.com

Duffy's View