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Funded! This project was successfully funded on October 1, 2012.

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A large-scale public sculpture made of reclaimed bicycle parts created by the youth of Oakland and artist Michael Christian.

***UPDATE: 9/14***

We are very excited to have raised more than $9,000 in less than a week of our campaign.  If we can raise $20,000 by the end of the Kickstarter period, we will fully fund every phase of the Bike Bridge project.  Thank you for your support!

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The Bike Bridge project is a collaboration with the youth of Oakland, artist Michael Christian, and partner organization The Crucible. The participants, all young women, began the project with classes in welding and art-bicycle creation, generously hosted by The Crucible. The program culminates in the collaborative creation of a large-scale sculpture made of reclaimed bicycle parts and other reclaimed materials, led by Christian.

Twelve young women, representing seven different high schools in East and West Oakland, were selected to participate in the project. They completed courses in MIG welding and Art-Bicycle Making at The Crucible, yielding impressively inventive and refined art-bike creations. In class, these young women learned the skills needed to help construct a large-scale sculpture.

In the second phase of the project, artist Christian worked with The Crucible’s instructors and the youth participants to design a ”skeleton” structure that was then embellished by the youths. These embellishments are made of reclaimed bicycle parts, connecting with “green,” urban bike culture and tapping into the exciting, creative buzz around “art” bikes.

The Bike Bridge sculpture will be the focal point of a new art park 
on Telegraph Avenue, adjacent to the newly renovated Fox Theater. The 
park will soon feature other exhibitions of large-scale art by Oakland 
and other local artists. This park is located in the hub of a quickly 
emerging art and nightlife scene, drawing thousands of visitors each 
weekend, massive crowds for the monthly Art Murmur and thousands more 
for shows at the Fox. 

A modest, but prestigious, NEA grant of $10,000 set the Bike Bridge project in motion, but the project still needs more funding before it can be shared with the rest of the world. We need your help to meet the project’s overall budget of $60,000 ($20,000 remains to be raised). Help us share this artwork with the greater public, so that all may appreciate and celebrate the achievement of these talented young women. 

Before you do anything else, please take a moment to donate now. These young artists deserve this magnitude of
 recognition! 

 Read more about the Bike Bridge: http://blackrockarts.org/projects/civic-arts/the-bike-bridge

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  • Pledge $10 or more
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    16 backers

    You receive the satisfaction of making this artwork available to the greater public so that all may appreciate and celebrate the achievement of these talented young women. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

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    15 backers

    You receive the new Black Rock Arts Foundation sticker and the satisfaction of making this artwork available to the greater public so that all may appreciate and celebrate the achievement of these talented young women. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

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    19 backers

    You receive the Black Rock Arts Foundation 100% cotton, black t-shirt, the sticker, and the satisfaction of making this artwork available to the greater public so that all may appreciate and celebrate the achievement of these talented young women. A portion of your donation (less the fair market value of the rewards) is tax-deductible.

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    5 backers

    You receive the Black Rock Arts Foundation black hoodie or black work shirt, the sticker, and the satisfaction of making this artwork available to the greater public so that all may appreciate and celebrate the achievement of these talented young women. A portion of your donation (less the fair market value of the rewards) is tax-deductible.

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    3 backers Limited (9 left of 12)

    You receive a signed limited-edition 11" x 30" archival-quality print of a drawing by Michael Christian of his piece "Flock". Flock was installed by BRAF in San Francisco's Civic Center in 2006. We'll also acknowledge your generosity publicly at the opening reception. Also receive your choice of the Black Rock Arts Foundation tee, workshirt, or hoodie. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of making this artwork available to the greater public so that all may appreciate and celebrate the achievement of these talented young women. A portion of your donation (less the fair market value of the rewards) is tax-deductible.

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  • Pledge $1,000 or more
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    2 backers

    Kazbus tour for two: once a year, we take a group of art enthusiasts on a rollicking tour of bay area art studios to see pieces headed for Burning Man under construction and talk to the artists to learn more about their inspiration and techniques. This is your chance to get two tickets to this event, as well as your choice of the Black Rock Arts Foundation tee, workshirt, or hoodie. We'll also acknowledge your generosity publicly at the opening reception. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of making this artwork available to the greater public so that all may appreciate and celebrate the achievement of these talented young women. A portion of your donation (less the fair market value of the rewards) is tax-deductible.

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    1 backer

    Your name on a plaque at The Bike Bridge, the Kazbus tour, and your choice of the Black Rock Arts Foundation tee, workshirt, or hoodie. We'll also acknowledge your generosity publicly at the opening reception. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of making this artwork available to the greater public so that all may appreciate and celebrate the achievement of these talented young women. A portion of your donation (less the fair market value of the rewards) is tax-deductible.

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    0 backers Limited (1 left of 1)

    You and your friends will have the Kazbus (max capacity: 25) and crew all to yourselves for a private 4-hour tour of Bay Area artists studios! And, you'll get your choice of the Black Rock Arts Foundation tee, work shirt, or hoodie. We'll acknowledge your generosity publicly at the opening reception and you'll have the satisfaction of making this artwork available to the greater public so that all may appreciate and celebrate the achievement of these talented young women. A portion of your donation (less the fair market value of the rewards) is tax-deductible.

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Funding period

- (22 days)