Bike (Ph)ix in living color!

Bike (Ph)ix now available to the Press! Limited time only!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bike (Ph)ix:  Stripped bicycles being faux-fixed on the streets of Philadelphia by local artist Corrina Mehiel

Bicycles that have been locked to bike racks throughout the city are regularly stripped of their wheels, seats and handlebars.  These bike frames end up staying locked to racks for months and sometimes years. 

This summer Philadelphia based emerging artist Corrina Mehiel has been ‘fixing’ these stripped bikes by replacing the missing parts with non-functional parts, to give the members of the community a different experience and new way to view no-longer-functional objects in public spaces, as well as to suggest new approaches to ‘fix’ broken objects on our city streets in new creative ways.

“Fixed” bikes can be found throughout center city, but for a limited time only!  As announced last month in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the mayor’s office is sending a task force to remove and recycle these stripped, abandoned bicycles on July 23, 2012. 

To see bikes that are a part of the Bike (Ph)ix project, and to meet the artist, contact Corrina Mehiel at corrinamehiel@gmail.com

Bikes are currently installed and ready for viewing and documentation at:

Broad and Lombard (SW corner)

Pine between 15^th and Broad (North side)

Pine between 9^th and 8^th (South side)

Walnut and 18^th Street

Spruce and 13^th Street

Lombard and 16^th Street

15^th between Pine and Lombard (West side)

12^th and Vine (West side)

11^th and Appletree

11^th and Cherry

Bike (Ph)ix #3

This bike lives right outside of the sculpture studios at The University of the Arts where I spend most of my time.  I've been watching it deteriorate since the undergrad students left at the end of April.  I assume it was one of their bikes?  

The wheels are flat and someone took the seat awhile ago.  This first photo is from a few weeks ago, and I was wondering how long until someone took the wheels.  

This morning I noticed both wheels were gone, ready to be (Ph)ixed by me.... But now I'm sort of wondering if I am inadvertently collaborating with the thieves, and if by doing this work, I am somehow encouraging this behavior...

Bike (Ph)ix #2

The very short life of (even fake) bikes in Philly.  

This bike skeleton lives at 15th and Lombard in center city. I have seen her for a few months now, she's a nice one, with a cute set of handlebars and seat.  

I gave her a set of blue 'wheels' on Sunday, and by Monday afternoon the back one was already gone.  These minor crooks are keeping me very busy. 

The SHAFT Gallery Opens Tonight! 5-9