Continuing the winning momentum of the Spirit Award that St. James won last year at the Tour of Missouri Bike race, we are asking artists, craftspersons, welders, and anyone who has a great idea to make a bicycle sculpture, to put on display and be auctioned off as a fund-raiser for St. James.  Does anyone remember the decorated Cows of Chicago, or the Horses of Albuquerque, the Pigs of Seattle or the Cows of Kansas City? These were life-sized fiberglass images that were decorated by artists from around the world, then put on display all over these cities to promote tourism. They were then auctioned off  and drew lots of attention to their cities. Our project would be the same idea, but instead of animals we would use bicycles.

The “Art Bikes” will be displayed downtown and at the Tourist Center in the weeks before the race on Sept. 10, 2009.  Artist Mary Lou Corn, who is a Chamber member, introduced this idea, and is going to be one of the sculptors. The city of St. James has bikes available to be made into art and is helping with the arrangement and placement of the Art Bikes.  The proposal is to use real bicycles, of any size or condition, and render them into interesting, beautiful, or amazing pieces of art.  They are not supposed to be rideable, so can be painted, added to, chopped, or whatever our applicants want them to be.  The Chamber is expecting some great imaginations to come forth in this project.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the creators for the best three Art Bikes: $300, $200, $100. The bikes will each be auctioned off to the highest bidder during the pre-start of the Tour of Missouri and at the Spaghetti Dinner at the Grape and Fall Festival, both on Sept. 10, 2009. Profits from this auction will go to Tour of Missouri expenses and St. James community betterment projects.

The chamber is taking applications for the bike sculpture entries immediately.  Applications can be obtained at the Chamber office (111 South Jefferson), at the Tourist Information Center, at the St. James Leader-Journal office, or downloaded off the Chamber Website, www.stjameschamber.net. The city of St. James has free bicycles available for those who need them.  You will be instructed how to get your bike when your application is turned in.   Applications will be important so that the city can determine how many sites must be created to mount and display the bicycles.    

Applications deadline is July 1 and bikes are to be finished by July 30.  They will go on display August 1. We will be contacting media from all over Missouri to come and see our project. Any businesses who wish to participate and sponsor a sculptor and share in the publicity are urged to contact the chamber office. For information: 573 265 6649  www.stjameschamber.net. The theme of the GFF parade Sept. 12 is bicycles: Pedal to the Medal.