In its relatively short history, The Church in Sag Harbor has mounted extensively researched exhibitions focused on automobiles, guitars, and boxing, among many other unusual subjects.
Now comes "RE:CYCLE — The Ubiquitous Bicycle," set to open with a reception Saturday at 6 p.m., with rare and atypical examples of bicycle design as well as a selection of fine art photography and video that illuminates the world's enduring connection to that humble form of transportation.
Nineteen unusual bicycles have been selected from the Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen, Ohio, by Ryan Long, the museum's coordinator, and Eric Fischl, The Church's co-founder. Dating from 1891 to 2017, they show how the materials and engineering of bicycles have changed over time.
Examples include a replica of the chainless Velocipede, a.k.a. the "boneshaker"; a Stoddard Cygnet from about 1898, a 1936 Elgin Skylark, a Bowden Spacelander from 1960, and a 2017 handcrafted wooden cycle by Warren J. Von Botbyl, as well as cruisers and racing bikes.
The exhibition's photography component explores how modern and contemporary practitioners, including Elliot Erwitt, Evelyn Hofer, and Susan Meiselas (this year's Hamptons International Film Festival poster artist), have highlighted the bicycle's accessibility and practicality, its beauty and gift of freedom, and its enduring presence in almost all cultures, says The Church.
The images have been selected by Mark Lubell, former executive director of the International Center of Photography and former director of Magnum Photos, and Jennifer Tripp, an independent curator and former director of print sales for Magnum.
Sara Cochran, The Church's chief curator, has chosen contemporary art videos by Bas Jan Ader and Bari Kumar that incorporate the bicycle in varied ways. In addition, Steve Miller, a Sagaponack-based artist, is lending a work by Jarbas Lopes, a Brazilian artist, from his Cicloviaereabike series, in which he encases bicycles in intricately woven materials.
The exhibition will continue through Dec. 17.
