Featured post

Black Lives Matter

Justice is a key organizational value at BICAS. As such, in response to the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, as well as the murders of countless Black lives in the United States, the BICAS Collective would like to take this moment to amplify the demands of Black-led organizers both locally and nationally for “acknowledgement and accountability for the devaluation and dehumanization of Black life at the hands of the police” as well as for “radical, sustainable solutions that affirm the prosperity of Black lives” (posted on the BLM website on May 30th, 2020). In addition, BICAS re-commits to examining our own organizational policies and practices in this vein.

Some Black-led initiatives where our Tucson community can send donations include:

Tucson Reparations

Minneapolis-based Reclaim the Block

George Floyd Memorial Fund

Mass Liberation Arizona

 

Public Phased Reopening Plan

Welcome back inside BICAS!
(Limited services and masks required.)

Starting April 27th, BICAS will begin our Public Phased Reopening Plan, welcoming a limited number of customers into our warehouse to allow for adequate social distancing and spacing. Customers may enter the building for their shopping and browsing needs. We know how eager you’ve been to get a closer look at ALL the bikes we have inside. In this current phase we will also continue to offer gate service as well as our sliding scale repair services.

We appreciate your patience as we build capacity and prepare to move into our upcoming phases when we will be able to reopen our Community Tools, WorkTrade, and Community Service programs, eventually phasing out our Essential Repair Services. We are so excited to one day return to our guided approach to do-it-yourself bicycle repair which has been the cornerstone of our programming for decades.  Stay posted for announcements regarding these opportunities as well as upcoming classes and small events.

Health and safety precautions still in effect

  • All people must wear masks inside BICAS.
  • Occupancy is limited.
  • People wishing to enter BICAS should expect to wait in line.
  • Physical distancing must be adhered to. Stay at least 6 feet from any other person.
  • Use of hand sanitizer will be required before entry.

What will be available

  • Inside shopping and browsing. 
  • Small-sized in-person bike repair classes.
  • In-person Art programing events.
  • Continuation of 
    • Gate service
    • Sliding scale repair services
    • Bicycle sales and test rides

What will not be available

  • Community Tools, our supported DIY repair center
  • Work Trade program
  • Community Service hours
  • Youth Drop In Saturday hours

Current Indoor Shopping Guidelines

  • Please keep your mask securely covering your mouth and nose at all times or you will be asked to leave.
  • Stay within the chalked outlines and direction of flow indicated by arrows and maintain 6 feet distance from staff and other shoppers at all times.
  • All customers are asked to use a squirt of hand sanitizer upon entry.
  • When there is a line customers will have a 15 minute time limit for shopping.  When you are ready to make your purchases please bring your basket back up to the front.  If your 15 minutes have expired we will call your name and you will be asked to check out.
  • Please ask for assistance in taking down any bikes and help us keep our shop organized by returning items to the correct bins

Art Corner

Beginning May 7, the Art Program is looking for volunteers of all ages to help sort, process and sell upcycled pieces at BICAS! Email art@bicas.org with your interest and we will figure out how to safely match your craft goals with our craft needs.

Thank you for your help to keep us all safe as we move towards full reopening.

<3

BICAS

Posted April 27

Featured Artist: Jenna Tomasello

Jenna Tomasello is a local Tucson artist who specializes in mural and faux finish painting, and  has a product line of desert inspired, artisan made bandanas. 

You may recognize her Star Wars Cantina mural for Tallboy’s Restaurant on 4th ave, the sunset  mural on what is now the Pima Area Labor Federation offices on e. Pima, and a community  paint by number mural in the Subspace Artist Studios. 

You can find her online at www.jennatomasello.com and follow on instagram at @jennatomasello. 

What is your story as an artist? How did you come to be a professional muralist? 

The first ever mural I painted was one where I was assisting a friend on their project, and I  realized “I could do this”. That moment was the inspiration that got me to look at my art as a  career. I started seeking out painting jobs in order to learn how to approach my work as a  trade and a business. I painted sets for theaters, did conventional house painting, murals,  and worked alongside many skilled craftspeople whom I continue to learn from and refine my  skills with. 

I started designing my bandanas in 2018 with the inspiration of having my artwork be more  functional and accessible. My bandana patterns are inspired by desert plants, animals, stars,  and seasons. I paint all of my designs by hand and I truly enjoy making them. I sell them  through my website (which I will be relaunching in mid-May) and in three local Tucson stores,  Pop-Cycle, The Ninth House Shop, and Shop at Mesa in the MSA Annex. 

We heard that the bandana project helps support local businesses. Can you tell us about that?  

Yes, it is important to me that my bandana manufacturing is done locally. The bandanas are  sewn by a women’s sewing co-op, DouglaPrieta Works, in Agua Prieta, Sonora. The patterns are screen printed in South Tucson by the union print shop, The Gloo Factory. 

What’s next for you as an artist? 

Ive been working on developing my the business end of what I do, as there is so much that  goes into running a business. I am looking to do more commercial art and murals and to grow  my bandana and product line. 

Anything else you want to share?

I hung out at BICAS a lot when I first moved to Tucson 10 years ago, it was sort of my second  home for a while. I volunteered in exchange for shop hours to build a bike. Now I have a bike  with a baby seat on it and my baby and I go on bike rides every day. So, a lot of my  inspiration is from my desert home here, I love living in Tucson. I love the desert and the  landscape and all the plants and animals, looking to the stars, star myths and different  stories… connecting ourselves to the landscape and history and stories of place and finding magic moments in that.

 

Published May 2021

BICAS Art Mart Sun, May 16!

 

Join us to support local artists and make kids crafts with BICAS Art!

Image description: Flyer reads, ‘BICAS’ 1st ART MART

Local Artist Market

Sunday May 16

9AM – 1PM

The BICAS Parking Lot’

See you there!

Graphic by BICAS staff Jreems Kmchroo, @jreemskmchroo on Instagram.

Watch our Inner Tube Wallet Tutorial Here!

This video shows you how to recycle a bicycle innertube into a functional wallet. Feel free to pause, as the video goes fast! Follow along with our premade materials kit available on the BICAS Art Etsy. Kits come complete with an instruction booklet, with and all sales to directly benefit the BICAS Art Program.

Link to purchase kits: https://etsy.me/3vagVTJ​

Link to more stitch variants: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of…​

Written, illustrated, and demonstrated by BICAS Staff Tyler McCullough Filmed, edited, and performed by BICAS Staff Shruti Kaul, @shrutikaul on Instagram.

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BICAS Materials Kits include:

– One-of-a-kind instruction sheet created by the BICAS Staff

– Innertube; 12in long piece (must be wide enough when cut flat to fit a credit card; beware when using a thorn resistant tube as they can’t typically fold more than four times)

-Needle (large eye, blunt needle works best and is safer for children but regular needle will work)

– Thread; 6ft (embroidery or sewing thread should work as long as it fits needle and is strong enough to hold rubber)

You will also need:

– Ballpoint pen (or anything that can mark an innertube)

– Ruler

– Scissors

Happy crafting!