The Bicycle Edition

Part 1: The Winter Commute

The Bike! My Bike! Yeah! So, in absolute honesty I really was counting down the days until I would be car free. (Damn the Toyotas for running forever) With the new job it was clear it would be an ideal situation to live closer to work so I could bike everyday. Done and done. I found an amazing apartment in the Tower District, less than 2 miles from the museum. Thankfully Tower is kind of a self contained unit, you don't have to go too far outside a 3 mile radius to find what you need; Bank, grocery, coffee, pho, farmers market, thrift stores, hardware, vegan cupcakes. The surprise bonus is that the Fresno Bike Kitchen just opened up on McKinley and I ride past it every day. Check this awesome video. Heaven.

Commuting began with heavy rains in late December. I did not have fenders at the time so just like a true cyclist I fashioned a rear fender out of plastic bottles and invested in some rain gear. Fortunately Z. knows that tricking out my bike is the best way to win my affections so he ordered me some fenders we had previously spotted on ETSY, $40, front and back fenders and they are made of wood. (Etsy rules). Rain? Not a problem. 

After all that wild wet weather we had a burst of cold, which isn't too bad to handle, a knit hat under the helmet, snuggy wool scarves, gloves and knee high socks do the trick.

This is my regular cycling attire. I keep a spare raincoat at work, just in case.

( note my rosy cheeks. What you can't see is the fine layer of mist covering my coat from the morning fog) 

OK, so now fog has become a huge issue for the mornings. I do not ride without a red crazy flashing light on the back of my helmet, aka, my skull. I usually use my 5 LED white front light as well ( Did you know they make bike lights that you recharge using a USB port?) My bike bag has a yellow stripe which also factors in for safety

The benefits: Riding to work gets me inspired, energized and funny, what a great way to start the work day. Riding home gives me a good mental break that I come home de-stressed and I never worry about work once I'm home. Additional bonus is I can eat some of that fatty pile of desserts lounging around the office and  never.... feel... guilty. 

Part 2: Bicycle Rules

I've been biking for ten years in city traffic and these are like the ten commandments, only you really should obey them.

1. Ride with traffic. duh. 

2. Be predictable, riding with traffic is a start.

3. Wear a helmet. I used to argue against it, but I don't want anyone to see blood oozing out of my head.

4. Ride with lights, front and rear, especially at night. 

5. Make eye contact with drivers. Many times this is your only form of communication with the people driving those dangerous and hot machines.

6. Be visible. This especially means do not hug the curb unless you really have to. You must ride as far left as you can so cars can see you.

7. In some cities it's illegal, but I think it's annoying and rude. Don't ride on sidewalks, leave that for the ped's. Unless it's a designated path for both.

8. Exercise extra caution at intersections. Over 50% of car and bike related accidents happen at intersections.

9. California state law says it is illegal to ride with 2 ear buds in. If you must listen to music wear the right bud, so your left ear can listen for traffic. 

10. Don't ride in a westerly direction at dusk. Drivers have the sun screaming into their faces and are more likely to be completely unaware of cyclists. Same goes for the morning hours. 

Bike safe . Bike for life

Part 3: The Handmade Bike Bag

Just before Christmas Z. and I made a pelotons worth of cycling bags. We sold a few, but never got around to putting them on etsy. That's all gonna change soon.

Raw canvas with recycled wallpaper lining ( for waterproofing), magnetic snap closure and simple straps that snap on and off the bike. We spent  two weeks just playing with the design, researching patterns of similar bags. Being avid cyclist we knew we wanted something very clean, simple and functional in every way, but the artist side in us wanted something with creative potential. We ended up with this simple envelope design with the raw canvas for personalization. The straps are just long enough that they snap onto the handlebars, the rack or a belt and can quickly be snapped off and tucked under your arm when you stop for coffee. 

Slick, right?

In other bike related news, I was really proud of Fresno City Council for committing to the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails Master Plan put together by the Fresno Bicycle Coalition.

I want to ride my bike when I'm 84.

Michael C. McMillen

One of the first treats of curatorial assistant employment was having the pleasure of  being invited to visit the newly renovated Oakland Museum of California  which I must say is a must see if you are in the area (near the lake known as Merritt) 

I was absolutely floored to find Michael C. McMillen's diorama entitled Aristotles  Cage tucked behind a ragged screen door in a tucked away part of the museum.You can see a stop motion video of the creation of Aristotles Cage here. Next to the diorama was a note announcing that he would be having a larger exhibition in February. In another section of the museum was a peephole cut out of a door so you can spy the curatorial staff and the artist at work on his exhibition. I can't wait!

 The Archives of American Art features a very nice oral history interview with Mr. McMillen.

walking

I know I said bikes were coming, but this lingering fog made me giddy to walk to work and take photo's. Plus walking slows the tempo of the day.

The caged lions first caught my eye

Last days

Post road construction this large hook was found in the grass near the skatepark.

December 2010 had everything flipped on it's head. My car was officially towed away with an exhausted transmission from 14 years of traveling. Walking, biking and bus rides everywhere. Especially to my new job at the Fresno Art Museum as Curatorial Assistant. And thanks to my brother and K. for helping me move into a sweet little apartment less than 2 miles from work. It was an unexpected twist and it took me about a week to overcome the shock and unexpected change in plans. 

The first month of work was hairy, guerilla style. I came home physically wiped out and sore every single day.  Biking to and from work was so beneficial for my mental health. The first exhibition to be installed featured the work of some of my personal art heroes and it was an incredibly spiritual experience to unpack them from their wooden crates and stand alone with them under a simple spotlight examining them with white gloves for condition reports. Tom Sachs, Hung Liu, Carrie Mae Weems, Iona Rozeal Brown, Chuck Close, Vik Muniz. The preparator and I alternated between squealing and gasping.

Bob the Bee Man's idle truck in his overgrown driveway.

Vegan Scones ( We've made these literally every week this winter)


1/2 cup wheat flour
1 1/2 cup white flour
3 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 margarine ( Earth Balance)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup soy milk
1 tbsp sugar


optional ingredients: walnuts, pecans, dried fruit, chocolate chips, fresh fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, coffee, lemon. Choose your poison.


Mix dry ingredients, add margarine, sugar and soy milk. Add your flavored options, we like using 1tbsp maple syrup, making sure to remove 1 tbsp worth of soy milk ( balancing our liquids) with pecans and raisins. ( I do hail from the raisin capital of the world)


Spoon onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees, 15-18 minutes. 

This feels typically Fresno to me. 

Listening to a lot of Buke and Gass recently.  Reading Sarah Thornton's Seven Days in the Art World. All creative activities have revolved around livelihood in the new digs. Laundry bags from old pillows for the walk to the laundromat, vintage lamp repair and lamp shade dyeing, wall mounted coat rack creation and installation,  and thrifting for materials I did not previously own, like end tables and more chairs. Also, currently sorting out my schedule to allow for more studio time.  This will be the week of time trials. When do I feel most productive/creative? How long can I work before my brain goes numb?  haha.  Next post will be dedicated to Biking, yes with a capital B, since I'm officially a bike commuter. xo