What might appear to be a waste of perfectly good bike parts, the SRAM pART PROJECT was a challenge given to 50 artists to create something out of 100 brand new components. Their results were on display at this year’s Interbike where they were judged before being shipped to a galley in Chicago to be put on display in October where additional judging will occur. After both exhibitions are complete, all of the pieces will be auctioned off online.
This is not some sort of snooty artist affair with champagne and caviar – this is art with a purpose. After all of the shows and auctioning of the pieces is complete, the proceeds will go to the World Bicycle Relief. This non-profit organization was created in 2005 by the SRAM Corporation and with additional support from other leaders in the bicycle industry, the World Bicycle Relief helps people in third world countries through the use of bicycles.
Video after the jump
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJTzi5aLsIk&feature=player_embedded
World Bicycle Relief specializes in large-scale, comprehensive bicycle programs by providing supply chain management, technical knowledge and logistics expertise to poverty relief and disaster recovery initiatives.
Compared to walking, bicycles represent an enormous leap in productivity and access to healthcare, education and economic development opportunities. The simple, sustainable nature of bicycles empowers individuals, their families and their communities.
Since the founding in 2005, World Bicycle Relief has distributed over 75,000 bicycles and trained over 700 field mechanics.
The SRAM pART PROJECT is just one more way that the bicycle industry is raising money for this organization . Along with the artists knowing that their work is benefiting this organization, the artist receiving top honors in the juried exhibition will be awarded a trip to Africa to visit people whose lives have been changed by the gift of a World Bicycle Relief bike.
If you miss out on the online bidding action, do not think you can not make a difference. The World Bicycle Relief is always accepting donations and as little as $134 can buy a bike for someone in need… how many $134 bikes are hanging in your garage and do they really change a person’s life? There is that saying, “I don’t know art,” and in this case we might not know art, but we know what we like and we very much like this project.