Press Release May 10, 2008
For more information contact:
Ellensburg Downtown Association 509-962-6246 info@ellensburgdowntown.org
 

2 New Functional Art Bike racks to Be Installed in Downtown Ellensburg Friday May 16

The Ellensburg Downtown association will be installing two new functional art bike racks downtown this Friday May 16^th as part of National Bike to Work Day.  The installations will take place beginning at 7:45 a.m. immediately following the Cascade Land Conservancy’s Bike to Work Breakfast celebration at the Rotary Plaza. 

The bike racks were commissioned by the Ellensburg Downtown Association’s design committee following a call for proposals issued last December and will be the second such installation.  The association installed two art themed bike racks last May.

This year’s bike racks will be installed at 4^th and Main , and at 4^th and Ruby. 

Ellensburg artist, Austin Smith is an emerging contemporary artist deeply committed to creative expression. He received formal training in painting, sculpture, and music from Central Washington University.  Travel to Europe and an extended study of art in Santa Fe, New Mexico furthered his love of the arts.  His works are in constant evolution, using new techniques and experimenting with both refined and organic materials.  To Austin, the process of creating art is as rewarding as the finished product, if not more.  More information about Austin Smith can be found at www.austinjsmith.com

Austin’s sculptural bike rack featuring steel poles and basalt columns will be located at the corner of 4^th and Main Street.

The second bike racks was designed by Seattle artist Nathaniel Katzoff.

Nathaniel Katzoff is the artist/designer and builder behind Artisan Bike Racks. Born and raised in Massachusetts,   Nathaniel studied wooden boat building and fine carpentry in Maine, before delving into the art of ornamental metalwork. He has studied sculptural welding and blacksmithing in New England, worked with a traditional bladesmith in India, and continues to hone his craft in the Seattle at the 4710 Artist Collective.

Drawing inspiration from both nature and the built world, his interest in pedal power and physical poetry expressed through metal is ever growing.  More information on Artisan Bike Racks can be found at www.artisanbikeracks.com

The association will install a collection of 3 of Nathaniel’s “blooming stand” bike racks at the corner of 4^th and Ruby.

This year’s art/bike rack installations were funded by the Ellensburg Downtown Association and sponsorship support from the Ellensburg Arts Commission, WSU Master Gardeners of Kittitas County, the Daily Record, CWU Alumni Association, Allstate Insurance: Glenn Bandy, and Recycle Bicycle Shop.  Additional support and assistance for this project was provided by the City of Ellensburg Public Works Department, JDubs, and Ed Ricard.

For more information about this year’s installation or how to submit proposals for future installations, contact the Ellensburg Downtown Association at 509-962-6246 or online at www.ellensburgdowntown.org or www.myspace.com/ellensburgdowntown .