Bikes + Art = Le Tour de Fantasy

(By: Vance Edwards-Orr, Bostonist.com) :: Last night Bostonist found ourselves at the Massachusetts College of Art Senior Show, an art opening featuring pieces from graduating seniors.The idea of spending a few hours in a room with a group of undergraduate art students had us a bit apprehensive, but we were a bit disappointed by the distinct lack of existential angst emanating from those present. In general, the crowd consisted of very nice students who seemed entirely relieved to be done with it all. By far, the most dramatic figures at the show were the professors.

A piece by Mark Vann had drawn us to the event: Le Tour de Fantasy. Being a fan of art and bicycles, we were eager to witness Vann’s blending of the two. The piece consisted of a large scrim on the floor, onto which was projected a video of the most recent Tour de France. Upon this big-screen carpet sat a bicycle on rollers being pedaled by the artist, decked out in full cycling regalia like those in the video. Behind this was a slim display case with a Discovery Channel jersey (like Lance Armstrong wears) and a number of other items.

Bostonist, not being a particularly sophisticated art-viewer, found the spectacle pleasant if unprofound. During a break, we approached Vann and asked him about the piece. He encouraged us to notice a pendant in the shape of Texas (Lance’s home state) in the display case; it was handmade by a colleague of the artist. What struck us most, looking at this lone cyclist puffing away in a crowd of pleased but somewhat uncomprehending onlookers, was the dramatic difference in popularity the sport of bicycle racing enjoys between Europe and the States. The projected video showed crowds of screaming fans, worshipping and exhorting their favorite athlete superstars. In America, it’s one guy riding bike at an art show.