Traveling Minnesota one Piece at a Time – 410’s Project Bike Opening Oct. 2
Sikkila rode through rain, wind and hot temperatures for 475 miles to make the 410’s Project a reality.
By Joe Steck – Mankato Times
MANKATO, MINN. — The public is invited to the 410’s Project Bike opening on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the 410 Project, 523 South Front Street, Mankato (Details below).
When Mankato artist Dana Sikkila puts her mind to something, nothing is going to stop her. She combined her love of art and bicycling to create a unique artistic project.
For two weeks this summer, 410 Project’s Executive Director Dana Sikkila set out on “410’s Project Bike”, an Art Bicycle Tour through southern and central Minnesota to meet with local artists and bikers to build a bridge between Minnesota artists and Mankato.
“I thought of the idea two years ago and I wanted to bring arts awareness, to connect Minnesota art and artists to Mankato,” said Sikkila “I had to figure out how I was going to make the project work. I knew I wanted to ride my bike to pick up the art, so I had to find pieces which could easily be transported.”
Sikkila put out a call for artists within Minnesota Regional Arts Councils – 4, 6F, 6W, 7E, 7W, 8, 9, 10, 11 with specifics on what size and type of art she was looking for.
“The submitted art had to follow the projects theme of transportation and since I was riding my bike with a trailer, there was a size and weight restriction,” said Sikkila “The artists also had to be willing to be on film since I was making a documentary.”
Bryan Holland of St. Peter was one of the 10 artists to submit work and be interviewed by Sikkila
Sikkila also sought out sponsors to help fund the trip.
“The trip was sponsored by the 410 Project, Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, Region Nine Development Commission, Nicollet Bike Shop, True Facade Pictures, and Key City Bike,” she said
Once the artists were lined up, she established a route, set up her GoPro cameras and fine tuned her Surly Disc Trucker and trailer. When added up, the bike, trailer and equipment weighed 120 pounds.
The two week, 475 mile trip started August 21st and ended September 26th with the first stop being Waseca to the home of Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council executive director Brenda Byron.
From there, she traveled to Rochester, Millville, the Twin Cities, Dawson, Saint Peter, North Mankato and ending up in Mankato picking up 14 pieces of art from 10 different artists along the way. The longest distance Sikkila traveled in a day was over 80 miles.
During her travels, Sikkila encountered numerous people who showed interest in the project saying she was shocked by the support she received from people whom she did not really know.
“People can tell you are traveling just by looking at you. When I stopped in stores and garage sales they would ask where I came from,” she said “They gave me water and food and wanted to follow me online and become invested in the project.”
Sikkila found art everywhere she traveled.
Another instance of people’s kindness was when Sikkila was hit by a car in Hastings while driving to the Twin Cities which left the bicycle undrivable.
“A woman was stopped at a stop sign and did not look both ways. I was in front of her car and she ran into my back wheel and trailer,” Sikkila said “I was not hurt but the part of the bracket to hold on the wheel and the hitch of the trailer which attached to the bike was bent.”
Luckily, a gentleman driving by saw the accident and circled around the block and came to help.
“He ended up being a bike mechanic is Hastings. He took the parts back to his shop and fixed them well enough for me to make it to the cities,” she said “Besides fixing the bike and trailer they gave me fruit, nuts and Gatorade before I left.”
It was not just strangers who showed the energetic artist kindness, two Mankato friends rode with her several days.
“Greg Lassard rode with me for one day and Acacia Wytaske for two days,” said Sikkila “When I first started the project I just wanted to do the ride by myself. Now, I would want someone to ride along with me every day.”
With the bicycling portion of her project complete, Sikkila turned to putting together the show of all the work collected.
“The 14 pieces I collected during the trip will be on display plus a few other things that were not collected but are associated with it,” Sikkila said “During the trip I had GoPro cameras for touring, interviews and to watch artists work. True Façade Pictures from Mankato are going through all of the film including interviews and narration to make a Travel documentary.”
Sikkila being interviewed after the 2 week, 475 bicycle trip for the project.
The travel documentary will be about the mission of the trip and will be online for the public to view following the opening.
As for the mission Sikkila says “It was about connecting people together who are not aware each other and support projects that think of the arts in different ways. It’s about letting people know the 410 Project is a place that wants to connect Minnesota to this community.”
ART OPENING
Sean Knickerbockers illustration for the Zine about Sikkila
What: 410 Bike Project opening on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the 410 Project, 523 South Front Street, Mankato.
Local artist and 410 Project Executive Director Dana Sikkila will be displaying art collected from 10 different artists during her 2 week, 475 mile bicycle trip throughout southern Minnesota.
The evening will also be the debut of a short film “410’s Bike Project” made in collaboration with True Façade Pictures which highlights the mission of the 2 week project.
There will also be a short, Sean Knickerbocker illustrated book (Zine) for sale which tells the tale of Sikkila’s journey and her life as a young, female leader in the community.
Musical Performance 7-9pm will be Gypsy Mania arranged by KMSU.
Artists List:
C Anthony Huber – Rochester – Painter
Beau Layman – Millville – Sculpture – Hot Rod Builder
Justin Dewitt – Minneapolis – Drawing – Bike Mechanic
Erik Noren – Minneapolis – Bike Fabricator
Adam Turman – Minneapolis – Printmaker and Illustrator
John Diebel – Minneapolis – Digital Collage
Thomas Myers – St. Paul – Mixed Media
Reed White – North Mankato – Painter
Bryan Holland –St. Peter – Painter
Brian Frink – Mankato – Painter
This Project is sponsored by: 410 Project, Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, Region Nine Development Commission, Nicollet Bike Shop, Rural America Contemporary Art, and Key City Bike.