From High Culture to High Country: Two Big DBC Events This Weekend

On Friday, the Durham Bicycle Co-operative will participate in a gallery art show opening, and the following day will offer a chance to rough it in the great outdoors. This Friday, May 15th, Art of the Bicycle opens at the Cameron Gallery in The Scrap Exchange. On Saturday, May 16th, DBC Events Coordinator Greg Heaton will lead an overnight bike camping trip to Falls Lake.

Art of the Bicycle

In honor of National Bike Month, the Cameron Gallery at The Scrap Exchange presents Art of the Bicycle. Curated by members of the Durham Bike Co-op, this exhibit celebrates the bicycle in art and design. It features art created with re-claimed bicycle parts as well as several designer, vintage, or unusual bikes on display to showcase their form.  Bikes from the co-op will be available for sale in the Cameron Gallery throughout the month.

The Durham Bike Co-op will also host a bike check-up event at The Scrap Exchange from 2-4pm on Saturday, March 23 to complement the exhibit. Members of the public are invited to bring their bikes to The Scrap Exchange and mechanics from the Durham Bike Co-op will help fix flat tires, adjust brakes, check seat heights, as well as point out any problems that need fixing right away.

Art of the Bicycle runs from May 15 – June 13. An opening reception will be held on Friday, May 15 from 6-9PM.  The evening’s festivities include light snacks and drinks, as well as music by The Wigg Report, a local band that travels to shows by bicycle. Art making in the Make and Take room is free on Third Fridays. This event is free and the public is warmly welcomed. Third Friday at the Cameron Gallery is sponsored by the Durham Co-op Market and Sam’s Quik Shop.

In addition to Art of the Bicycle, this Third Friday includes the Artist Spotlight exhibit at The Scrap Exchange. Each month, The Scrap Exchange, in conjunction with local art therapist Martha Dyer, features the work of an artist whose art tells a story of healing, survival and creative self -expression. The work is displayed on movable walls located inside the arts center.  Artists featured on the Artist Spotlight receive 100% commission for sold work. This month’s exhibit will feature James Obie.

The Cameron Gallery is located inside The Scrap Exchange creative reuse arts center at 2050 Chapel Hill Rd. in Durham. For more information, call The Scrap Exchange at 919-688-6960 or visit
http://scrapexchange.org/cameron-gallery/

Falls Lake Overnight Bike Camping

This weekend, the Durham Bike Coop is going on a one night camping trip to Falls Lake.

Participants will leave from the Coop at 5:00 pm Saturday May 16th on a one hour ride.

Interested parties are encouraged to make sure both they and their bikes are prepared to make the whole trip there and back carrying their own gear.

Suggestions for what to bring:

Bike with a rack and panniers
Spare tube and/or patch kit and tire levers
Multi-tool
Adjustable wrench
Some kind of shelter (Tent/Hammock/Tarp)
Rain Coat
Sleeping Bag
Plenty of Water
Snacks
Something to contribute to communal meals
At least one change of clothes
Plate and utensils to eat off of
Towel
Toilet Paper (primitive camping)
Bathing suit (if interested in swimming)
Lighter and/or matches
Pocket knife
Sunscreen
Insect repellent

As this is a group tour, some equipment brought by one person can cover multiple people (camping stove, hand pump, etc). Anyone planning to bring one of these items can contact Events Coordinator Greg Heaton at sternermouzon@gmail.com in order to eliminate redundancies, and reduce weight for everyone. Other parties can consider leaving a extra room in their panniers in order to carry something for the group.

"Tours like this work because we back each other up," said Heaton.

There will be two communal meals that participants will prepare (dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday). Participants need to bring some food or some money to contribute to this purpose. Those with special dietary needs should contact Greg Heaton.

"Bike camping takes work, but is a lot of fun, especially with the Coop crew. Hope to see you all out there enjoying the road and the wilderness," said Heaton.

For more information or to sign up to attend, email DBC Events Coordinator Greg Heaton at sternermouzon@gmail.com.

For other events happening during "Bike Month," check out http://durhambikecoop.blogspot.com/2015/05/bike-month-hosts-events-throughout.html

(Greg Heaton contributed to this article)

What kind of events do you like to attend with the DBC?