People's Bike Library of Portland

Last updated

People's Bike Library of Portland
People's Bike Library of Portland in Portland, Oregon, 2015.jpg
The sculpture in 2015
People's Bike Library of Portland
Artist
Year2009 (2009)
TypeSculpture
Medium
Dimensions5.2 m× 2.1 m× 2.1 m(17 ft× 7 ft× 7 ft)
Location Portland, Oregon, United States
Coordinates 45°31′22″N122°41′03″W / 45.52275°N 122.68403°W / 45.52275; -122.68403
OwnerCity of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council

People's Bike Library of Portland, also known as Zoobomb Pyle or simply "the pile", [1] [2] is a 2009 steel and gold leaf sculpture by local artists Brian Borrello and Vanessa Renwick, located in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. It was erected in collaboration with the Zoobomb bicycling collective, and serves as a bicycle parking rack, a "lending library" for weekly bike riders, and a monument to the city's bike culture. The sculpture features a two-story spiral pillar with a gold-plated small bicycle on top; bicycles intended for Zoobomb riders are locked to the pillar and base, which has metal loops serving as hooks.

Contents

The sculpture is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection, courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which commissioned the work with funds from the Portland Department of Transportation. The collaboration between the two groups was occasioned by the "Art on the Streets" program set up by Mayor Sam Adams.

Background

"Zoobomb pile" in 2007, prior to the erection of the 2009 sculpture ZoobombPile.jpg
"Zoobomb pile" in 2007, prior to the erection of the 2009 sculpture

In the early 2000s, "fun-seeking mini-bike lovers" began gathering for weekly bicycle rides down a hill, starting near the Oregon Zoo. [1] The event acquired the name Zoobomb from the barely-controlled rapid downhill ride, known to cyclists as "bombing", in close proximity to the zoo. [1] [3] The association of the group with the word "bombing" once led to an investigation by the Portland Bureau of Police, who feared that the group was composed of domestic terrorists. [4] Prior to the sculpture's installation, bikes were stored at the "Holy Rack", or "Zoobomb pile", located at Southwest 10th Avenue and Oak Street. [1]

People's Bike Library of Portland existed by 2006 as an informal bicycle-sharing system – what the operators called a bicycle "library" – open to those who purchased a $5 identification card from a custodian called "Handsome Dave". [5] BikePortland.org worked with the city to secure $10,000 from the Portland Department of Transportation, in order to create a city-recognized bicycle parking rack and artwork out of the library "pyle". [1] [6]

Description

People's Bike Library of Portland is a steel and gold leaf sculpture designed by local artists Brian Borrello and Vanessa Renwick. [7] It was installed in a traffic island at the intersection of West Burnside Street and Southwest 13th Avenue in downtown Portland in 2009. [1] [8] [9] Erected in collaboration with Zoobomb, the sculpture is multi-purpose, serving as a functional rack, a bike "lending library", and a monument to Portland's bike culture. [6] [9] It is 17 feet (5.2 m) tall on a 7 by 7 feet (2.1 by 2.1 m) base and features a two-story spiral-shaped pillar, topped with a gold-plated small bicycle, which Renwick has referred to as the "cherry on top!" [1] [6] A collection of children's bikes, intended for use by riders at weekly Zoobomb meetings, are locked to the sculpture. [9] The base includes metal loops which act as hooks for the bicycles. [1]

The work is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, [9] which commissioned the project for $10,000 with funds from the Portland Department of Transportation. [1] [6] Mayor Sam Adams helped bring the sculpture to fruition through his new program known as "Art on the Streets", a collaborative effort by the Bureau of Transportation and the Regional Arts & Culture Council. [1]

Unveiling

Mayor Sam Adams spoke at the dedication ceremony for People's Bike Library. His "Art on the Streets" program helped bring the sculpture to fruition. Sam Adams (8184230107).jpg
Mayor Sam Adams spoke at the dedication ceremony for People's Bike Library. His "Art on the Streets" program helped bring the sculpture to fruition.

On May 29, 2009, Adams and other community leaders hosted an event to commemorate the sculpture. The participants, who included a variety of cycling enthusiasts and current and former Zoobombers, gathered at the former "Holy Rack" before parading to the sculpture. The parade had been promoted by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and City Repair Project, [7] and featured small and tall bikes, chopper bicycles, and a homemade bakfiets . [1] At the ceremony, long-time Zoobomber Shannon Palermo introduced the Regional Arts & Culture Council's public art manager, who spoke about the work. "Handsome Dave" thanked those who made both Zoobomb and the sculpture possible, then introduced Adams, who cut the ribbon after a countdown and spoke about the work's origins. [1] He said:

It was three or four years ago that Mr. Handsome said, 'you know what, we need a place to catalog and store our bikes' ... He said we want to do a sculpture ... and he said, 'Oh and we want you to pay for it!' ... Portland's bike culture is not only fun, it's absolutely necessary for the future success of this city, to reduce our footprint on the environment, to make ourselves a lot more healthy ... and it's great, quirky stuff like this that makes Portland, Portland, and I was really proud be a little part of it. [1]

Following Adams' speech, attendees created the first pile of small bicycles. One participant, who was one of the first women of Zoobomb, said about the creation of the first new pile: "I pushed through the crowd and handed it forth, bowing in honor of the golden b(eye)cycle winking in the sun. As I retreated to the crowd, my whole body was shaking. My hands were in disbelief. I paced in a circle and half-sigh/half-laughed and this darn smile was holding me so tight, I felt like the kiln was burning it into my clay, smile-shaped cheeks forever." [1] A long chain was wrapped through each of the nearly twenty bicycles, which were locked to the sculpture by Adams. Event attendees then posed for a group picture, and sang a song called "16" Rims", a parody of Janis Joplin's "Mercedez Benz". [1] The commemoration ended with "dancing in the streets" and music by The Sprockettes. [1]

Reception

Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org described the sculpture as a "functional work of public art that will serve not just as a place to store Zoobomb bikes and equipment, but as a visual testimony to what makes Portland, Portland", and called the day of its installation one that "will live forever in Portland's bike-cultural history". [1] Furthermore, he said the work recognizes Zoobomb as a tradition, a "civic and cultural institution with deep connections" to the city. [1] In his coverage of the dedication ceremony, Maus wrote: "It's important to remember that this is not just for Zoobomb. It's for all of us. It's from a City that encourages and recognizes the power of creative expression and activism embodied not just in a physical monument, but in the spirit of every Portlander." [1] In Frommer's: Portland Day by Day, author Julian Smith called the sculpture a "pile on a pole" and included it in a list of "offbeat" city attractions. [10] Other general Portland guidebooks like Falcon Guides and Moon Guides hail the sculpture as a city attraction, [11] [12] as do bicycling-specific guides. [13] [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Critical Mass (cycling)</span> Group cycling advocating cycling friendly policy

Critical Mass is a form of direct action in which people travel as a group on bicycles at a set location and time. The idea is for people to group together to make it safe for each other to ride bicycles through their streets, based on the old adage: there's safety in numbers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoobomb</span> Weekly bicycling activity in Portland, Oregon, United States

Zoobomb is a weekly bicycling activity in Portland, Oregon, United States during which participants ride bicycles rapidly downhill in the city's West Hills. Zoobomb began in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicycle culture</span> Culture supporting the use of bicycles

Bicycle culture can refer to a mainstream culture that supports the use of bicycles or to a subculture. Although "bike culture" is often used to refer to various forms of associated fashion, it is erroneous to call fashion in and of itself a culture.

The Center for Appropriate Transport (CAT) was a non-profit community center dedicated to bicycles and alternative transport located in Eugene, Oregon, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicycle parking rack</span> Device used to park bicycles, not to be confused with a kick stand

A bicycle parking rack, usually shortened to bike rack and also called a bicycle stand, is a device to which bicycles can be securely attached for parking purposes. It may be freestanding, or securely attached to the ground or a stationary object, such as a building. Indoor racks are commonly used for private bicycle parking, while outdoor racks are often used in commercial areas. General styles of racks include the Inverted U, Serpentine, Bollard, Grid, and Decorative. The most effective and secure bike racks are those that can secure both wheels and the frame of the bicycle, using a bicycle lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wapato Bridge</span> Bridge near Portland, Oregon, United States

The Wapato Bridge, formerly known as the Sauvie Island Bridge, crosses the Multnomah Channel of the Willamette River near Portland, Oregon, United States. The original Parker truss bridge, built in 1950 with a 200-foot (61 m) main span, was replaced with a tied arch bridge with a 360-foot (110 m) span in 2008 due to cracks discovered in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Street Trust</span> American non-profit organization

The Street Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy organization based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The Street Trust advocates for the safety and ease of biking, walking and riding public transit in communities. The organization does legislative work at the statewide and national levels and endorses legislation and ballot measures. It successfully lobbied Portland's mass transit company, TriMet, to accommodate bicycles on buses and prevailed in a lawsuit to uphold Oregon's Bicycle Bill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chervona</span>

Chervona is a multi-ethnic, Russian and Eastern European-inspired band from Portland, Oregon, that formed in 2006. They have become known for their old world-inspired music and their highly energetic live shows.

<i>Pedaling Revolution</i>

Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities is a non-fiction book written by Jeff Mapes, a political reporter for The Oregonian. The book gives a brief history of the bicycle from its start in the early 1800s, when it could only be afforded by the wealthy, through to the present. He talks of the 1890s when bicycles were inexpensive enough for commoners to afford, yet automobiles had yet to be mass produced, and city streets were filled with bikes leading the League of American Wheelmen to lobby for paved roads. The end of World War II saw a decline in the bicycle as automobiles became more a way of life. The 1970s saw a boom in the American bicycle market, to again decline in the 1980s. Most recently, Mapes looked at several then-current politicians who were outspoken about bicycle advocacy such as then-chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) of the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure who Mapes calls the highest regarded cycling supporter in Congress. Later chapters look at cycling in cities such as Amsterdam, Davis, California, Portland, Oregon, and New York City. The final chapters detail some of the risks and rewards of bicycling.

<i>Kvinneakt</i> Statue in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Kvinneakt is an abstract bronze sculpture located on the Transit Mall of downtown Portland, Oregon. Designed and created by Norman J. Taylor between 1973 and 1975, the work was funded by TriMet and the United States Department of Transportation and was installed on the Transit Mall in 1977. The following year Kvinneakt appeared in the "Expose Yourself to Art" poster which featured future Mayor of Portland Bud Clark flashing the sculpture. It remained in place until November 2006 when it was removed temporarily during renovation of the Transit Mall and the installation of the MAX Light Rail on the mall.

Mark Grieve is an American contemporary artist. He practices in a variety of media including found objects and large metal sculpture as well as site-specific installations, performance, and public art.

<i>Animals in Pools</i> Sculpture series in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Animals in Pools is a series of fountains and bronze sculptures of Pacific Northwest animals, designed by American artist Georgia Gerber and located in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The series was installed in 1986 as part of the renovations associated with construction of the MAX Light Rail. Funded by the Downtown Merchants Local Improvement District, TriMet and the United States Department of Transportation, the sculptures were presented as gifts to the city and remain part of the collection of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

Vanessa Renwick is an American artist and filmmaker living in Portland, Oregon. Since 1981, she has been working in experimental and documentary forms—writing, producing films, videos, photography, sculpture and installations. In 1996, she started her own production company, called The Oregon Department of Kick Ass. Renwick's art reflects an interest in place, landscape use and transformation, as well as relationships between bodies and landscapes.

<i>Winter Rider No. 2</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Winter Rider No. 2, also known as Winter Rider Variation, is an outdoor bronze sculpture by American artist James Lee Hansen, located on the Transit Mall of downtown Portland, Oregon.

<i>Untitled</i> (Killmaster) Sculpture by John Killmaster in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Untitled is an outdoor 1977 steel and porcelain enamel sculpture by American artist John Killmaster, located in downtown Portland, Oregon. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

<i>City Reflections</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

City Reflections is an outdoor 2009 bronze sculpture by Patti Warashina, located in downtown Portland, Oregon.

<i>Lovejoy Columns</i> Columns with murals in Portland, Oregon

The Lovejoy Columns, located in Portland, Oregon, United States, supported the Lovejoy Ramp, a viaduct that from 1927 to 1999 carried the western approach to the Broadway Bridge over the freight tracks in what is now the Pearl District. The columns were painted by Greek immigrant Tom Stefopoulos between 1948 and 1952. In 1999, the viaduct was demolished but the columns were spared due to the efforts of the architectural group Rigga. For the next five years, attempts to restore the columns were unsuccessful and they remained in storage beneath the Fremont Bridge.

Velosaurus is an outdoor 2015 concrete and painted steel sculpture by Horatio Law, installed beneath the Powell Blvd. Light Rail Overpass between the MAX Orange Line's Clinton St/SE 12th Ave and Clinton St/SE 12th Ave stations in southeast Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The piece is a series of eight bas-relief panels made of recycled bicycle and skateboard parts, arranged to appear like dinosaur skeletal remains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biketown</span> Bike sharing system in Portland, Oregon, United States

Biketown, also known as Biketown PDX, is a bicycle-sharing system in Portland, Oregon, that began operation on July 19, 2016. The system is owned by Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and operated by Lyft, with Nike, Inc. as the title sponsor. At launch, the system had 100 stations and 1,000 bicycles serving the city's central and eastside neighborhoods, with hopes to expand outward.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Maus, Jonathan (June 1, 2009). "A monumental day for Zoobomb, and for Portland". BikePortland.org. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  2. ↑ Feldman, Lucy (July 20, 2014). "In Portland, Riders on Tiny Bikes Go 'Zoobombing'". The Wall Street Journal . News Corp (Dow Jones & Company). ISSN   0099-9660. OCLC   781541372. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  3. ↑ Dalzell, Tom, ed. (2009). A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Taylor & Francis. p. 102. ISBN   978-0-415-37182-7. Archived from the original on 2017-12-23.
  4. ↑ Mirk, Sarah (May 28, 2009). "Secret Sculpture Officially Cements Once-Fringe Zoobombers Into City". The Portland Mercury . Index Publishing. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ Maus, Jonathan (October 23, 2006). "Zoobombers ponder 'pyle' options". BikePortland.org. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Public Art Search: People's Bike Library of Portland". Regional Arts & Culture Council. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  7. 1 2 Iserhott, Hinda (May 29, 2009). "Zoobomb Public Art Unveiling". City Repair Project. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Zoobomb Pyle, Portland, Oregon". Public Art Archive. Denver: Western States Arts Federation. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "People's Bike Library of Portland, 2009". cultureNOW. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  10. ↑ Smith, Julian (January 27, 2012). Frommer's Portland Day by Day. John Wiley & Sons. p. 33. ISBN   9781118222416. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  11. ↑ Cook, Sybilla Avery (2013). Walking Portland, Oregon. Falcon Guides. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 61. ISBN   978-0762794119. Archived from the original on 2017-12-23.
  12. ↑ McCollom, Hollyanna (2016). Moon Portland. Moon Publications / Avalon. p. 42. ISBN   978-1631212796. Archived from the original on 2017-12-23.
  13. ↑ Roll, Todd (2014). Pedal Portland: 25 Easy Rides for Exploring the City by Bike. Timber Press. p. 41. ISBN   978-1-60469-602-8.
  14. ↑ Weiss, Eben (2013). Bike Snob Abroad: Strange Customs, Incredible Fiets, and the Quest for Cycling Paradise. Chronicle Books. p. 55. ISBN   978-1-4521-0525-3.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.