Screens 'N' Spokes: Crosshair

Crosshair - Chicago, IL
Jess and I had the pleasure of checking out the Crosshair studio while Dan was printing these last week. I've been an admirer of his work for a long time. His ability to turn compelling architectural photographs into screen prints is amazing, and I don't think anyone out there can do color separations like him right now. These prints always need to be seen in person to fully appreciate the level of detail he achieves.

Screens 'N' Spokes: Lars Krause

Lars Krause - Dresden, Germany

With the 4th of July in our rear view mirror we're now looking at 8 weeks before the opening of Screens 'N' Spokes. The creative juices are flowing, screens are being burned and the flatstock is being printed. We've begun to receive prints and we've seen previews of others, which means it's time for you guys to see them as well. Every week leading up to the opening we'll be previewing 3-4 prints on the blog, one per day. The mailing list will get to see them all first at the beginning of the week.

Our first print comes by way of Germany via Chicago, and I think it's a great introduction to the 2008 series. Lars has been producing amazing work for bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Rage Against the Machine and Band of Horses, but since he works in Germany I don't think his art has gotten the same attention as his American colleagues. The global riders are a great way to announce Screens 'N' Spokes' international contingent in 2008 and I love the hand-drawn text. These were printed in the good ol' USA by screen printer extraordinaire Steve Walters at Screwball Press in Chicago.

2008 Subscription and Preferred Buyers

Before we start to preview the artwork, we wanted to announce two special opportunities to our biggest supporters for a unique way to experience and collect this year's prints.

Preferred Buyer
$100 - Donation made directly to the Screens 'N' Spokes Bike Team
Preferred Buyers will have the chance to purchase one (1) copy of any and all Screens 'N' Spokes 2008 prints before they go on sale to the general public. The opportunity to become a preferred buyer will be available until Aug 31. During the first week of September, Preferred Buyers can reserve and purchase one copy of any posters they choose. We will do our best to accommodate requests for specific edition numbers, though we can make no guarantees. We like to take care of our best customers, so preferred buyers can expect some extras in their shipments.

This offer is limited to 10 Preferred Buyers. To become a Preferred Buyer, email us with "Preferred Buyer" in the subject.

2008 Screens 'N' Spokes Subscription
$750 - With $250 of that total as a tax-deductible donation to the Screens 'N' Spokes Bike Team
For the first time we will also be offering Screens 'N' Spokes subscriptions. Our subscribers will receive a complete, low matching-numbered set of all of our very limited art prints. We are expecting about 30 prints in Screens 'N' Spokes this year, and we'll also throw some extras in subscriber tubes. All told, subscribers will receive 35-40 prints (an average of about $20 a print). Because the 2008 Subscription includes all things Screens 'N' Spokes, our subscribers will also receive a 2008 Screens 'N' Spokes Team biking jersey. This year our jerseys will be designed by the amazing Cricket Press. Subscriptions will be sent out in 3 installments, and shipping is included in the price of the subscription. Subscriptions can be paid all at once, or in three installments of $250, with the balance paid off by Sept. 1, 2008.

Subscriptions are limited to 5 Subscribers. To become a 2008 Subscriber, email us with "Subscription" in the subject.

Screens 'N' Spokes 2008 Artists

With a little over 8 weeks until Screens 'N' Spokes 2008 opens, we are going to start cranking up the posts on the blog. Today we are releasing what should be the final list of contributing artists this year. I'm sure you'll agree with us when I say we couldn't be more excited about the amazing talent involved with our cause. There are many, many returning favorites, and a number of awesome new artists.

In the coming days and weeks we'll be offering up previews of this year's prints (3-4 a week) as well as updates on Team Screens 'N' Spokes' fundraising efforts. We'll also be announcing two exciting opportunities to purchase this year's prints before anyone else. As always you'll be getting this information first if you're a subscriber on our mailing list. Simply shoot us an email and we'll get you set up.

Screens 'N' Spokes 2008 Artists:
1982 (Nate Duval and Jon Smith) - East Coast/West Coast
Brad Klausen - Seattle, Washington
Cricket Press - Lexington, Kentucky
Crosshair - Chicago, Illinois
Dan Grzeca - Chicago, Illinois
Dan Levine - Boston, Massachusetts
Diana Sudyka - Chicago, Illinois
Dirk Fowler - Lubbock, Texas
Dr. Pizzoli - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Drew Millward - Leeds, England
Gary Houston - Portland, Oregon
Gina Kelly - Los Angeles, California
Guy Burwell - Portland, Oregon
Hero Design Studio - Buffalo, New York
Jay Ryan - Chicago, Illinois
Judge - Chicago, Illinois
Kevin Mercer - Oaklyn, New Jersey
Lars Krause - Dresden, Germany
Leia Bell - Salt Lake City, Utah
Mark Forsman - New York
Matt Sutter - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mike Munter - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nick Rhodes - Manchester, England
Jennifer Nicholls - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Patrick Theaker - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Punchgut Studio - Fargo, North Dakota
Sei Rey Ho - Boone, North Carolina
Strawberryluna - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tim Gough - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Mailing List

Jess and I have begun a Screens 'N' Spokes mailing list. This will be the first place to learn about everything new happening with the show, have access to exclusive deals and any other tidbits of information we can think of to pass along.

If you're interested in getting added to our mailing list, shoot us an email, and we'll add you to the list and send you our previous newsletters. Mailing list subscribers have already been offered two exclusive ways to purchase this year's prints, and seen the jam-packed initial artist list.

Clipped In

I got my bike back from the shop this weekend, so, with a little trepidation, I began my introduction to clipless pedals.

All the advice I had received said I was bound to fall a couple times, and that I should practice on grass to get a feel for it. Words of wisdom indeed. I walked my bike over to Prospect Park, clicking my shiny new shoes all the way there.

I sought a relatively flat piece of grass by the bike lane, and began my indoctrination. I was actually prepared to have a difficult time getting out of the pedals. That was, in fact, not my problem. No, my problem was getting my shoes locked into the pedals in the first place. My difficulties did lead to a couple spills, and even a slightly skinned knee, but after about 15 minutes I felt ready for the pavement.

The great thing about the 3.5 mile circuit around prospect park on the weekends is that you never have to stop. Once I managed to securely clip in I was good to go. Two times around was enough for the first time back out, but the new pedals felt pretty good, and thankfully I can say it was nearly injury free.

What experiences have you had with clipless pedals? Have you seen a real difference? Any unfortunate spills?

Welcome Back

Friends, bikers, supporters, art lovers:

Welcome to 2008.

Ok, so we are a few months late I suppose, but I can welcome you to the 2008 edition of Screens 'N' Spokes. Jess and I have been working behind the scenes for a couple months now, getting in touch with artists, securing venues and brainstorming new ideas. We can't wait to share our progress with you.

We're planning on blogging a lot more this year, and keeping you all up to date on our proceedings. Hopefully we'll introduce new posts and features, all tangentially a part of the larger Screens 'N' Spokes milieu.

In the coming weeks we'll be announcing our initial artist list for the Screens 'N' Spokes 2008 art show, as well as spot lighting the really cool venues where you will be able to see the show in person. We'll also be updating everyone, bikers and non-bikers alike, on our training regimen for Team Screens 'N' Spokes.

But, there are a couple things you can do right now. We are recruiting again for the 2008 Screens 'N' Spokes Bike Team. Last year, as a rookie team, we fielded a roster of 20 riders in the MS150 City to Shore Bike Ride. Join us and ride with over 6,000 cyclists on what Bicycling
Magazine calls the "Best Cycling Getaway in New Jersey." There are a number of different distance options making the ride completely accessible to riders of all abilities. As a team we offer fun and enthusiasm, not to mention some awesome biking jerseys. Last year we raised $30,000 for the National MS Society and we are really hoping to build on that success.

If mounting a bicycle isn't your thing, perhaps mounting a piece of bicycle art on your wall is. We still have a number of prints available from our 2007 show at our Etsy shop. Maybe you know a bike enthusiast with a birthday coming up? Peruse the virtual isles, I'm sure you'll find something that catches your eye.

That's pretty much it for now, but keep your web browsers tuned to this space; we'll be having all sorts of fun content soon enough. If you've got any questions, would like to learn more about our events and the cause we are supporting, or would just like to be added to our mailing list all you need to do is post a comment or shoot us an email.

Jess and I are looking forward to a great year. I hope you're ready for it.