New concept piece

[RWJR]

have been working on a sculpture for a designated bike trail. This sculpture was inspire by the "ghost bike" phenom. The purpose of the piece is to raise cyclist awareness for the motorist. The trial is a 2 lane road out in the country around Lafayette, La. that is very scenic and popular to riders and is dedicated to a beloved guy that was run over and killed. A ghost bike was erected at the spot where the accident happen and did not last very long before it was destroyed and removed. Also the DOT symbol for the designated bike trail was run over and 45degrees to the ground. Considering this trinity of destructive events, the death, ghost bike and sign damage I came up with the idea of making a sculpture by cutting the DOT symbol of a bike out of 3-4 " plate steel as big as proportional to a 4x8 plate. I think by installing this piece on the side of the road (it would be based on top of a large I beam) it would be confrontational to most drivers , like the huge live oaks that line the roads down here. Its hard to drive down these road and not think about how easy things could become life threatening if ya don't pay attention, (even subconsciously I know these thoughts exist) So its kinda like a bit of reverse psychology the get the drivers to think or feel what it like for the cyclist. Too Far fetched? The bicycle as killer, role reversal? What do you think?
I also like the way the piece gives reference to great art of sculptors like Richard serra (because of the thick material and clean cuts, it's sheer weight and imposing size) Claes Oldenburg ( oversize common object) and even Kieth Haring ( just because for years I thought he designed all those handicapped , food, gas and hotel symbols that ya see on the road sign) Please excuse any bad grammar. I'm taking this to kickerstarter today

[KatyL]

Originally Posted by RWJR

The bicycle as killer, role reversal?

certainly if drivers are looking at sculptures on the side of the road, they are not paying attention to bicycle riders. Or am I getting the wrong message here?

[RWJR]

I hope you are getting the wrong message, the speed limit it 35 mph on the road and I don't think it would be any more distractive than looking at the real estate or swamps or trees, Its a very scenic drive. But good point. Does the concept offend and if so is that a plus or food for thought, a dialog seed?

[rika]

Any visuals on this? A drawing or a photo would be nice. The idea itself might prove confrontational with some or many depending on the area. Here where I live, close to the big city, it's quite a battle. Just my opinion, I would go with something that warns of danger, endangering the life of others. I just saw a picture of one of these damaged ghost bikes, what could be more effective than that? you cannot help but think of the rider who was sitting on that wrecked bike...did they survive? As a driver I would find that more effective than the idea of a threatening bike.
But all depends on the actual execution of the idea, that's why it would be nice to see at least a sketch.

[RWJR]

That may be true about the damaged bike being very effective, but the ghost bike is a memoral at the location of the accident, kind of like a cross on the side of the road.I am attempting to make a premanent sculpture about bike awareness with skills and methods that are important to me, materials that are important to me and not at the actual crash site. Non artist do the ghost bike, there is a web site that instructs how to do it. The ghost bike that was placed on this particual road didnt survive very long. Even though I accept the influence of the ghost bike, I'm not interested in making one. Thanks for you responce Rika, it's helping solidify my reason and intent.
This image plasma or flame cut out of 3 or 4 inch plate, larger than an actual bike

[Mack]

I think it will be very impressive.

[rika]

Originally Posted by RWJR

I'm taking this to kickerstarter today

Did you? Can we see the link?

[KatyL]

Looks very clean lined. Is there a copyright on it? If it is out there in public, no doubt someone owns the rights.

[RWJR]

I've decided to approach funding in a different way, more local. Im going to get a bunch of key chains made with the image. I'll get the local bike shops etc. to sell them. I just need to raise enought for the materials and labor, about 6000 dollar .I'm going to donate all my efforts. There has already been 12,000 dollar worth of landscaping , benches etc.. done at the site.

I think I can appropriate this image but thanks for bringing that up because I have not looked into it. I just figured it would be like the american flag, public domain?

Also Im starting to feel that there are some doubts about using this piece by the architect and main fund raiser, It started off about a sculpture and has turn into a landscaping project. I kind of got baited in and then they changed the emphasis without telling me until I had spent the time falling in love with this idea. If I had known there would have been art direction involved I would have had no interest. Thats why I'm airing this out on this forum,(so that I can work out any doubt that I may not be aware of, you guys are known for those razor sharp teeth,ha) I do like and respect the opinions here, as far as I'm concerned this is the ONLY forum on the net.
If my sculpture gets legs I will try to import it to other areas

[chris 71]

if you have gotten yourself motivated and inspired, and like you said fallen in love with the idea.
maybe you should just go ahead and do what you do. just make it. maybe you can morph the idea now and give it more of that RWJR flavour.

[RWJR]

I hope something does come of it chris, I know its a different looking piece from my usual work, but its funny how the mother of invention really has come to play in my artistic life. particuialy with this piece ( because it would be cnc torch cut by the fab shop) I m taking some meds for a health problem that have side effects that really sap the energy level, got another 5 months to go. So its cool that I can adapted to another way of making things that doesn't require alot of hands on work . I'm still making small carved steel pieces till I feel like westling those big plates again. I've noticed my energy level is getting alittle better in the last few days so it might not be much longer before it s back to normal.
Carving steel will always be the most important thing to me but I have always made pen & ink drawing, m/med and paintings, just never show them.

[rika]

That's unfortunate, but good to hear you're getting back to normal, RW. I'm sure you'll be back soon to your bigger sculptures/challenges. Meanwhile it would be great to see your smaller pieces as well.

What is the reason for never showing your drawings and paintings? a little surprising...

[RWJR]

I'm trying to tell myself its a vacation rika. this has been the most time off Ive taken in years. Now that you ask, I guess I have no good reason for not showing the 2d. The other reason I like the idea of having the piece cut out by cnc is because that way if another group wanted to have one I could just call it in and ship. I've done bronzes like that. I will post the small one in a week or 2 thanks