In this series we stop people along the bike lanes in Vancouver and have chats with them about their thoughts on cycling, their bikes, and more. Have a look at the archive HERE.
Name?
Joel.
Tell me about your bike?
I use my bike a lot, so it became important to me to make some sort of statement with it. It took several weeks to develop the basic layering of this camouflage tape, and I found that it just started metamorphosing as I went along. I became inspired to incorporate natural elements into the design, and have always been into using feathers of eagles and other birds. My bike previous to this was loaded with feathers so I've kinda developed this reputation for being a “bird man”. Even though this bike has a different tone to it, I still feel like a big bird floating along on it. I found these stray eagle feathers down here on Granville Island about 6 months ago which were all together in a set, and immediately thought that they were going on my bike. I've also wrapped long shafts of bamboo around the frame, which have now aged over time to have more of a straw look to it. I wasn't sure if it would survive the bad weather but it seems to be holding up, and I'm just going to gradually add to it.
I have noticed as I work closely with feathers that there are certain times of the year where you find the right kind of feathers laying around on the ground as part of nature's cycle. Ravens, crows, and eagles tend to drop their feathers in early summer, and they start to become more scraggly later in the season. I like to collect the long sleek feathers that haven't been damaged. At this point I'm also starting to add some wood to my bike, and I'm not sure how it is going to morph through the next season but I just going to keep watering it down and polishing it up. It's been a really great process.
It looks like you're a bike courier by the sign on the back?
By day yes, but that's just a sideline.
Are you a student at Emily Carr?
I'm a life model here, and have been a model in the circuit for a long time. I like to bike to work rain or shine and come along the seawall which is always a pleasant ride.
Do you find that you have more confidence in leaving your bike somewhere where there's a high bike theft, when it looks more unique?
Somebody pointed that out to me. Since it is so prominent someone isn't going to run off with something that everyone recognizes. To be honest I haven't seen many bikes out there that people have made into art pieces. I am a bit surprised that others don't want to customize their bikes when they use them all the time. My whole life has been devoted to art in one way or another so doing this was an obvious extension. My whole lifestyle and apartment is full of artifacts from nature. Even things that have washed up on the shore or that have been blown out from wind storms. My bike is a personal statement on how I see our relationship with nature.
It seems like it's a total reflection of you.
I think so. To be honest I'm surprised that no one has tried to pinch the eagle feathers, but I think that people see it as an art statement and they realize that they shouldn't tamper with it. Even someone who has no morals, sees something like this and realizes that this is more beautiful when it's left intact.
