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PSA #2: Biking and sculpture tour

September 30th, 2009 · 2 Comments

Oh, what the heck, while I’m at it … here’s another fun very-Vancouver thing to do on Sunday, before going to the view-corridor debate on Monday. See notice below.

The only thing this tour is missing by the way is a swing by the new public art at the 25th Avenue Canada Line station. Has everyone seen it? About two dozen miniature Volkswagens, spray-painted silver, stacked in glass boxes, just outside the station. Too bad about the police tape or whatever it is around it, which kind of detracts from the look.

I like the witty message that I think it conveys — put your car in a glass box, you won’t need it with public transit. Or am I being too literal/reductionist?

The BIKEnnale Combines Cycling with Cultural Experience
 Thousands expected for Sunday, Oct. 4 bike / sculpture tour


Vancouver, BC (Sept. 25, 2009) – The Vancouver Biennale in partnership with MEC Great Rides invite you to participate in the BIKEnnale, a combination bike ride and cultural experience that will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2009 from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
The BIKEnnale cycle tour will take riders to select sculpture installations throughout Vancouver on a route that goes seaside from Vanier Park through the West End along English Bay, Stanley Park and Coal Harbour, with an extended route to VanDusen Gardens and Queen Elizabeth Park.  Riders can do the short 13-km or long 36-km routes at their own pace. Musical performances will happen at Vanier Park, Morton Park and Cardero Park locations, and free bike mechanics, water and refreshments will be located at key points along the ride to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety. Riders will finish the BIKEnnale at the Museum of Vancouver in Vanier Park, where there will be live music, a vegetarian BBQ and other refreshments from 3:00 – 5:00 PM.

“The BIKEnnale is a terrific way for people to experience this first phase of the Vancouver Biennale,” says Roberta Kremer, Vancouver Biennale Director of Public Programs. “The whole point is to merge our love of outdoor recreation with public art situated in some of the most beautiful yet unexpected places in the city. Weather permitting, we expect to see well over 2,500 people join us for a truly great ride.”

Riders can pre-register online at www.greatrides.ca for a cost of $15 per adult. Children 16 or under ride free.

Riders can also register in person on October 4th anytime between 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM at Vanier Park just outside the Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut St.) for a cost of $20 per adult.

ABOUT THE VANCOUVER BIENNALE
The Vancouver Biennale is a registered non-profit organization that brings sculptures, new media and performance works by celebrated and emerging international artists to Vancouver and surrounding area parks, beaches and urban plazas, transforming our city into an open-air museum. Pursuing the theme in-transit-ion, the exhibition will further situate art along bike routes, on buses, at the Vancouver International Airport and at new Canada Line rapid transit stations. The exhibition promises a diverse mix of interesting and important works of art, from the spectacular to the curious, to the thought provoking and playful, for the entire community to enjoy, completely free of charge, day and evening throughout the seasons. For more information, visit http://www.vancouverbiennale.com/

ABOUT MEC GREAT RIDES & THE VANCOUVER AREA CYCLING COALITION
MEC Great Rides is a project of the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC). The VACC is a volunteer-run non-profit society whose members work to improve conditions for cycling in the Lower Mainland. We work to change the circumstances that discourage bicycle use: inadequate cycling facilities, and lack of education for both cyclists and motorists. We do this by working with municipal, provincial, and federal politicians and government staff, and by offering advocacy support and education to groups and individuals in the Lower Mainland. For more information, visit http://www.greatrides.ca and http://www.vacc.bc.ca.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Vancouver Biennale
Roberta Kremer
P: 604.682.1289

VACC / MEC Great Rides
Jonathon Reynolds
P: 778.866.5135

Categories: Uncategorized

  • Bill Lee

    Pay for a cycle ride! Vancouverians don’t do that. This MEC set of suburban rides isn’t doing that well.
    Cycle the Blossoms had some fall off this year when they started a fee.

    At least people will get about, not paying, but realizing what is and isn’t art.

    Then there is the olympics cultural detrius.

  • Bill Lee

    And on Sunday real art, some made before your eyes at the Main Street region of studios, stores and other people desperate to get a sale.
    The big party at the Industrial Design place on the False Creek Flat has been cancelled by the City.
    But the show goes on for 2 day 03 and 04 October. See interactive web page http://www.thedrift.ca or download the PDF map rather than the interactive map. http://www.thedrift.ca/pdfs/maponly3.pdf (3 pages, 688 Kb, colour coded)

    Some are actually Emily Carr College of Art graduates and it shows.
    Sunny weather both days and lots of entertainment promised and odd restaurants along the strips.
    —
    Besides the famous artist Jane Scott (mother of obscure rocker Bryan Adams) has another enormous mural on the side of Hesp automotive repairs at 67 Mahon Avenue, North Vancouver ( Fortes and Esplanade, just north of the Waterfront Park) So important was the unveiling that even a Gordon Campbell was there.
    —
    Then there is the series of sponsored street murals under the guidance of Strathcona Artist Richard Tetreault to be unveiled this week. As part of Britannia High School’s 100th, students were the workers on wall murals at Commercial and 2nd (Fratelli Bakery), Clark and Adanac, Russian Hall at Campbell and Keefer.
    On 03 October, cyclist Gregor Robertson lead a cycle tour of the four murals.

    Thumbnails and maps at http://www.eastsidemurals.com/Mural_Invite/Locations.html

    So who needs the Biennale ?