Tucson’s Bike Church Sanctuary - Tucson, AZ
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Max and 99
N 32° 13.781 W 110° 58.690
12S E 502057 N 3565894
This church made of bicycle parts is beautifully lit up at night.
Waymark Code: WM11ZB2
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 01/15/2020
Views: 3
Tucson's Bike Church is a small church that is made of bicycle parts. At night the church is lit up, and easy to spot as you drive on Granada.
Article text:
The Tucson Bike Church Sanctuary is a permanent memorial dedicated to bicyclists who have been killed in traffic accidents and stands at the northern gateway to a six-mile bicycle and pedestrian path that will run from downtown, through South Tucson and to the Kino Sports Center. Public artist Joe O’Connell, who runs Creative Machines, and his collaborator Blessing Hancock, an artist and landscape designer, created the sculpture. The 12 by 12 foot structure is best viewed from inside — the walk-in metal sculpture allows the visitor to appreciate not only the hundreds of bike frames, wheels and rims but also the stained-glass windows and musical chimes, details that at a glance may not be noticed by passers-by. By day, the stained-glass windows, which are made of metal and colored acrylic, contrast with the white structure. Go by at night and see how beautiful it is — the pinnacle rises to 22 feet and is lit by solar power that projects through multicolored “story panes”.
The sanctuary is nondenominational but the artists borrowed a bit from religious iconography. There are two Stars of David on the sides and a mold of a Pascua Yaqui dancer; the top is similar to those on Islamic temples and the stained-glass windows remind one of a church.
After the Bike Church was built with funding provided via a $50,000 grant from the Pima Association of Governments and the Tucson Pima Arts Council, Jean Gorman and the B.R.A.D. Fund announced a plan to make improvements to the area around the sanctuary. The next step is a tree planting project and pavers to surround the space. To assist with this phase of the project, the B.R.A.D Fund is soliciting $50 donations from bicyclists and bicycling clubs. For your $50, you get a paving stone with you or your club’s name engraved on it that will be installed at the memorial.
The structure is located just north of downtown in the Barrio Anita neighborhood, on the southwest corner of W. Davis Street and N. Main Ave.
Drop by when you’re in town for El Tour – it’s a lovely idea.
If you would like to contribute a commemorative paver for the sanctuary — this place where we remember our loved ones — please send your check for $50 to:
Perimeter Bicycling / The B.R.A.D Fund
2609 E Broadway
Tucson, AZ 85716
Information: 520-745-2033
Type of publication: Internet Only
When was the article reported?: 09/17/2012
Publication: perimterbicycling.com
Article Url: [Web Link]
Is Registration Required?: no
How widespread was the article reported?: regional
News Category: Sports
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