Robertus Joost van der Wege is the winner of the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group’s 2013 Spare pARTS public art installation initiative with his Magic Bike submission, a proposed 18-foot-long tricycle that provides a table and seating.  Proposals were requested from area artists for functional, site-specific artwork that encourages street life and pride along Fort Worth Avenue by recruiting and supporting the artistic ingenuity that epitomizes the DIY spirit of the area.  The installations were required to use recycled, re-used, and re-defined materials; and the art had to fulfill a utilitarian role, such as providing shade, seating, bike parking, lighting, etc.

The Magic Bike sculpture will be installed on or before August 24 in front of Smoke, and a christening ceremony is scheduled at the site on Saturday, September 7, at 5 p.m.  Please plan to attend and meet Robertus in person.

From Robertus Joost van der Wege:

“I have long admired Oak Cliff’s initiatives to build a better community.  Bike Friendly Oak Cliff stands out in its effort to create an accessible and sustainable community, and the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group endeavors to make locally created art available to the public, among other goals.  The Magic Bike will be located at a critical juncture for bikeways going in and out of west Dallas, and it is being constructed locally at the Welding Lab of Mountain View College.  The Magic Bike encourages people to gather together, interact with the sculpture, and add a little whimsy to their day.”