While I have never seen a bicycle as art; I do view some as highest quality craftwork.
The main distinction being; that a bicycle or other craftwork primarily being a useable object. The object may have both artistic and functional qualities that work in harmony to create the whole.
In the public's eye quality craftwork does not seem to be on a par with ART. {MY OPINION ONLY}
Call it what you want... enjoy!!!
Nick Zatezalo Atlanta,Ga
-----Original Message-----
>From: Roman Stankus <rstankus@mindspring.com>
>Sent: Mar 9, 2006 9:19 PM
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: RE: [CR]re: bikes as art, or not
>
>What comes to mind here is that we're getting to a point in this discussion
>where any thing anyone likes is "art" - even if the creator of the object
>didn't even think of it that way.
>
>The more examples of this I see, the more bogus the whole notion seems. At
>what point does every nicely designed thing become art?
>
>It seems that one could compile an endless list or finely designed and
>crafted objects that serve a primarily functional purpose in life. The
>creators of these objects are typically fine designers/craftsmen and may
>have been influenced by many stylistic and/or artistic movements in the
>development of their own personal styles. Most of them don't consider
>themselves as artists and most don't think they make art. What do we know
>that they don't that we need to label these things as art?
>
>I just don't get it. The art of .......... take your pick. I don't see it.
>
>"What's art got to do with it?"
>
>Roman Stankus
>Atlanta, Ga.
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
>[mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of
>chasds@mindspring.com
>Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 5:23 PM
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]re: bikes as art, or not
>
>Bob Hovey wrote, in part:
>
>Well said. I've spent quite a few hours discussing the definition of art,
>>
>> both as an art student and later as a teacher... simplisic distinctions
>betw
>> een
>> art and craft as "decorative" and "functional" respectively
>are seldom
>> satisfying and frankly I don't recall the matter ever being settled in a
>> satisfactory manner in any of our discussions. Most can agree however,
>wit
>> h your
>> statement above... that art is somehow transcendant and is much more in
>the
>> eye of
>> the beholder than those who created it (many objects now considered art
>were
>>
>> produced by people who had no purpose other than to get to the end of day
>wi
>> th
>> enough saleable goods to feed their families).
>
>********
>
>for those who may doubt that pure function can also function as
>art, I draw your attention to the following:
>
>http://tinyurl.com/g6qh7
>
>for some, me included, this is among the most beautiful
>functional objects ever made. Designed and built by Nat
>Herreshoff 100 years ago, this vessel had one purpose:
>to go fast. Capt. Nat wasn't big on art, even if he was an
>artist himself. Sound engineering, going fast, winning races,
>that was his thing.
>
>Classic content: much the same could be said about
>Ernesto Colnago, who has produced more than a few beautiful
>bikes in his time. That also happen to go fast. They'll never
>be in the same league as a New York 30...but, then, Ernesto
>is still in business. The same cannot be said of the Herreshoffs,
>who went out of business because they couldn't compete with
>the future. At least Ernesto keeps a wary eye on the here-and-now
>while he makes his occasional art.
>
>Charles Andrews
>SoCal
>
>One could probably say the same about