News


Thank You!

Thank you so much Tucson! We appreciate your support of the 25th BICAS Art auction! BICAS hasn’t had one of these events in 2 years due to the pandemic. While most of the staff was new, we managed to pull it off with 500 people coming to the 2 night event and over 100 unique pieces for auction sold in a single night!

Our art auction featured a huge variety of practical and fanciful handmade bicycle-themed art, most of which was created using upcycled bicycle parts. All the art was donated by some of Tucson’s best artists who support the mission of promoting education, art, a healthy environment & making transportation more accessible to our community. We also had live music by Son Jarocho Collective in Arizona and the Hatpin Duo.

This was our biggest fundraising event of the year with all proceeds going toward our various community programs that help people learn how to fix a bicycle, earn a bicycle, create unique art from recycled materials, and provide programs for youth.

To see photo’s of the event on Facebook click here

 

 

BICAS Art Mart 2023!

BICAS Spring 2023 Art Mart!

poster art by: Jenna Tomasello 

Yes, indeed BICAS will have another art mart! Last year was a success and we are continuing this inspired event for another year! The BICAS Art mart was created in early 2021 in response to art events being cancelled in 2020. Those art fairs were an important revenue producer for local artists. Artists were some of the hardest hit during the pandemic. They relied on local events to make a living and many were cancelled in 2020. Events like our BICAS art mart is where artists come together & collaborate. And create a name & business for themselves in the community.

Save the date March 26th 9am-2pm

Event at the BICAS parking lot 2001 N 7th Ave

Free to attend. Local artists.

Applications accepted until March 5th

To see more updates on this check our social media or sign up for our email list

Want to apply early as a vendor? Fill out the google form below to apply or send an email to art@bicas.org

APPLY TO TABLE AT BICAS ART MART 2023

Storage Container Mural by Chip Thomas

 

Chip Thomas, Colin Holmes, Racheal Rios & Monique Laraway, 2021

Photos from Racheal Rios

Interview with Chip, 2021

  1. What got you started on your creative process/brought you to where you are now?

I moved to Northern AZ in 1987 and set up a black and white darkroom shortly thereafter. For the next 22 years I spent time in the community photographing and having occasional shows of that work. However, it didn’t feel complete in that the people in the photos weren’t seeing the work. A 3 month trip to Brazil in 2009 led to me spending time with street artists who introduced me to the large, wheat pasted photographs of JR which influenced the work I’m doing now. 

Chip Thomas Mural from jetsonorama.net

  1. What brought you to BICAS, and/or inspired you to contribute the incredible wheat paste mural that went up recently?

I was invited by Kylie Walzak to do an installation at your original site in 2010. I returned in 2011 to install work as well. Then Colin Holmes invited me to do an installation there this year. 

Racheal Rios and Chip Thomas at BICAS, 2021. Photo from Racheal Rios

  1. What are you working on right now?

Well, I’m working on a couple things. I just completed an installation at Fort Garland in the San Luis Valley on Native enslavement from 1492 to the late 1800s. As an extension of that I’m looking at doing an exhibition on the complex history of the Buffalo Soldiers who were stationed at Fort Garland for 3 years in the mid 1860s. They’re recognized and celebrated as Black American heroes but in truth they were freed enslaved people who were seeking acceptance into American society by participating in the settler-colonial narrative of fighting and killing Native people. In order for healing to begin we need to start there. 

Chip Thomas mural from jetsonorama.net

  1. What is the best way to follow your work?

Hit me up at @jetsonorama on the (Insta)gram or follow my blog – jetsonorama.net. Peace.

Chip Thomas mural from jetsonorama.net

Chip and Racheal at BICAS, 2021, photo from Racheal Rios

Follow, support, and shop Chip’s work by visiting the above links. Thank you Chip for your work!

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For questions, mural requests, media, metalworks commissions, information on our Annual Art Auction, workshop information, or parts requests, contact the BICAS Art Coordinator at art@bicas.org or 520.628.7950, or stop by the shop at 2001 N. 7th Ave during our open hours.

Find out more by following BICAS Art on Facebook, Instagram and on our Etsy shop!