The Art of the Motorcycle

[Gnome]

The Art of the Motorcycle show is coming to the Memphis Tennessee Pyramid April thru October this year.
Though Memphis really sucks,this should be worth riding into see.

At the Gugenheim (spelling?) show there were 117 Motorbikes,and the Las Vegas show had 82. The Memphis show will have 92 bikes and will be first class all the way.
Yall come now, ya hear! :wave

[flash412]

At the Gugenheim (spelling?) show there were 117 Motorbikes,and the Las Vegas show had 82.The New York show was at the Guggenheim. The Bilbao show was at the Guggenheim. The Las Vegas show was at the Guggenheim.

[Gnome]

:laugh


But...The Memphis show will be at the Pyramid. Got it? THE PYRAMID,in Memphis. :D

[rocketman]

The New York show was at the Guggenheim. The Bilbao show was at the Guggenheim. The Las Vegas show was at the Guggenheim.
That's funny, when I saw it in Vegas it was at The Venetian, which houses a Guggenheim museum area. Guess they have renamed it since i was there. :D

Regardless of where or what the building is that houses it though, it is *well* worth going to see.

RM

[Voni]

more info here:

http://www.wonders.org/motorcycle.htm

I'll never forget the original show in New York City!

Voni
sMiling

[GregFeeler]

The New York show was at the Guggenheim. The Bilbao show was at the Guggenheim. The Las Vegas show was at the Guggenheim.

Actually, the Las Vegas show was at the Venetian. Was great when I saw it and anyone who gets the chance, should.

While I was waiting to get in a guy passed by and asked about it. He rode a Harley as it turned out. I explained all about the great and rare bikes and the history part and so on. He asked, "Is is all Harleys?" And, when I said no, he wasn't interested.

[flash412]

Actually, the Las Vegas show was at the Venetian.Actually, the show was at the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum which is inside the Venetian Hotel-Casino.

According to The Guggenheim (http://www.guggenheimlasvegas.org/building_herm.html)...

The state-of-the-art gallery space for the new Guggenheim Hermitage Museum is within the elaborate structure of Las Vegas's Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino. This enclosed exhibition space houses masterworks from the Guggenheim and Hermitage museums in a unique setting. The museum's exterior and interior walls have been constructed with panels of Cor-Ten steel, which has never before been used as the structure of a museum gallery. The lightly textured industrial metal is intended to evoke the traditional velvet walls of the Hermitage Museum while providing a stark modern contrast to the ornate architecture of The Venetian.

The museum was designed by architect Rem Koolhaas who established the influential Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in 1980. His projects range in scale from innovative private residences to ambitious urban redevelopment plans, including libraries, museums, and corporate headquarters. His most famous buildings include the Maison à Bordeaux (1998), the Kunsthal (Rotterdam, 1992), Nexus Housing (Fukuoka, 1991), and the Educatorium (Utrecht, 1997). Future projects include the Seattle Public Library and Prada retail stores. Koolhaas is the recipient of the Pritzker Prize 2000, architecture's equivalent to the Nobel Prize, and the Légion d'Honneur in 2001. He has published the acclaimed books Delirious New York (1978) and S M L XL (1995) and currently teaches at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.

Furthermore, a press release (http://www.guggenheim.org/press_releases/release_27.html) noted, The Guggenheim Museum's landmark exhibition, The Art of the Motorcycle, will inaugurate the Guggenheim Las Vegas...

[GregFeeler]

Actually, the show was at the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum which is inside the Venetian Hotel-Casino.

According to The Guggenheim (http://www.guggenheimlasvegas.org/building_herm.html)...

[i]The state-of-the-art gallery space for the new Guggenheim Hermitage Museum is within the elaborate structure of Las Vegas's Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino. This enclosed exhibition space...

Well, my mistake then. I understood it was put on by the Guggenheim but didn't realize that area was considered a museum facility. Cool then, maybe the AOTM may come back there. Vegas has it's own charms. :clap

[chasman]

I also saw it at the Venetian. WELL worth the price of admission! I plan to see it again in Memphis this summer. WAY TOO COOL!!! Hope to see some of you there...


Riding Like the Wind...

CHASMAN
Black '02 K12RS

[flash412]

Well, my mistake then. I understood it was put on by the Guggenheim but didn't realize that area was considered a museum facility.Its an easy mistake to make. The Guggenheim built the musem in Vegas and inaugurated it with TAotM.

When I heard the show was going to be in Lost Wages after it was in Spain, I called the Guggenheim in New York and got the straight poop. Months later, I checked back with the Venetian who told me to call the Guggenheim in the Bad Apple. I thought it was pretty odd that somebody in Las Vegas was telling me to call somebody in New York to ask about the progress of a building in Las Vegas that was inside the complex where the Vegas person worked.

I've been in Guggenheim Museums in Las Vegas, New York, Bilbao and Florence. But I've only seen TAotM twice. I'd love to go again. Not only is there a fantastic selection of stunning form-as-function motorcycles, but the Guggenheim sets the world standard when it comes to putting on exhibits. I hope that the Pyramid in Memphis was paying close attention to the previous four versions of the show.

[GregFeeler]

Its an easy mistake to make. The Guggenheim built the musem in Vegas and inaugurated it with TAotM.

When I heard the show was going to be in Lost Wages after it was in Spain, I called the Guggenheim in New York and got the straight poop. Months later, I checked back with the Venetian who told me to call the Guggenheim in the Bad Apple. I thought it was pretty odd that somebody in Las Vegas was telling me to call somebody in New York to ask about the progress of a building in Las Vegas that was inside the complex where the Vegas person worked.

I've been in Guggenheim Museums in Las Vegas, New York, Bilbao and Florence. But I've only seen TAotM twice. I'd love to go again. Not only is there a fantastic selection of stunning form-as-function motorcycles, but the Guggenheim sets the world standard when it comes to putting on exhibits. I hope that the Pyramid in Memphis was paying close attention to the previous four versions of the show.

Great story - very weird indeed. And, you're right - the presentation of that exhibit was second to none. I'd make a long trip to see it again, and again.

[Gnome]

The show will open 22 April 2005 and go thru October 30 2005.
Admission will be ,
Adults $15.00
Seniors $13.00
Children $5.00

We are putting the bikes in the exibit now and hope to have them ready,(I said hope to) by 22 April.
We have a dust free day coming up to ready everything. This show may be the best since the one in New York!
Come one,Come all, you just don't want to miss this one.


On a side note. Sad about the Harley owner not wanting to see the show. He really missed out.
Have fun!

[barryg]

For those planning to attend the A of the M; I can make a few suggestions. If your looking for agood place to eat Westy's at 346 N Main is a great choice. It's only 1 block east of the Pyrimid at the corner of main and Jackson. Probably the most famous restaurant in Memphis everyone wants to go to is The Rendezvous at 52 S. Second St.; across the street from the Peabody Hotel in an alley. Barbeque is their specialty. If your looking for camp site The Tom Sawyer camp ground and RV park is probably your best bet . The address is 1286 S. 8 St. off MLK BLVD. West Memhis Ar. You will cross the Miss. River Levee to get to the park, and you will be camping right on the Miss. River. across from Memphis. The tel# is 870 735 9770. For those on a budget or your just plain cheap Mugs Pub at 4396 Raleigh-Lagrange is your place. Tom Mabry (Hammer) the owner has a campground behind his bar. He has given his permission for us to use it. No facilities (gorilla camping) Camp at your on risk. Tel. #901 372 3556. It's located off I-40 exit 8, 1 mile N turn Rt. .5 mile on left. No charge for camping.

[rocketman]

Here's a good link to some of the bikes in the display broken down by years. If this doesn't wet your appetite, nothing will. I also noticed the price on the book Art of the Motorcycle is way down from what it originally sold for, well worth the bux for over 400 pages of great photos and some nice essays on motorcycling thru the years. I got when I saw the show in Vegas and love thumbing thru it.

Art of the Motorcycle (http://www.guggenheim.org/exhibitions/past_exhibitions/motorcycle/motorcycle.html)

RM

[barryg]

I posted previously on where to camp, and this is one more alternative. The Memphis-Graceland RV Park & Campground. 3691 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, Tn. 38116. Tel. 901-396-7125 Toll Free 1-866-571-9236 Located behind Heartbreak Hotel close to Graceland. Stop at the Tn. State Welcome Center 119 N. Riverside DR. and pick up their brouchere cards; it states a 10% discount with presentation. One of Elvis's bikes will be on display at the show; if your lucky maybe Elvis will show up!

[paulsibek]

If you know the history of the Guggenheim , Peggy Guggenheim and what she did for modern art and the NY , then calling a museum in a casino a Guggenheim is nearly blasphemy.

She took the NY post modernist and abstract impressionist artists and gave them, or helped give them, the exposure it needed to become a valid art form on the world scene.She helped raise NY to equal Paris as an art center in the world.

Al least the interior exhibit space was decent, but not really up to Guggenheim standards.

[paulsibek]

taken (illegally) at the LV show are posted around here somewhere.

If anyone like any and wants a copy, email me and I will email you back the photo and you can print it yourself. The files are 2mp, about 400k and print very nice on an 8.5 x 11 paper with a 1 1/4" border.

[dlearl476]

If you know the history of the Guggenheim , Peggy Guggenheim and what she did for modern art and the NY , then calling a museum in a casino a Guggenheim is nearly blasphemy.

She took the NY post modernist and abstract impressionist artists and gave them, or helped give them, the exposure it needed to become a valid art form on the world scene.She helped raise NY to equal Paris as an art center in the world.

Al least the interior exhibit space was decent, but not really up to Guggenheim standards.

I would assume from your post that you missed the exhibit in Las Vegas. Like I posted to your photo thread, I saw NY, Chi, and LV and Las Vegas was BY FAR the best display of the BIKES. The lighting, the angle of view, the grouping, the flow, all were vastly superior to the NYC show. Which I assume* was constrained by the "historical" nature of the Guggenheim building itself. Yes, the Guggenheim in NYC is a landmark both physically and artistically, but IMHO for AotM it simply was second best. And FWIW, my HOUSE is "post-modernist abstract impressionism" so I'm not unfamiliar with the concepts.

And boy does it suck that I'm going to Memphis, TOMORROW! Back on Monday.

*Actually, I think I got that tidbit of info from an interview with the designer of the Guggenheim-LV space.

[paulsibek]

[QUOTE=dlearl]I would assume from your post that you missed the exhibit in Las Vegas.

You assume wrong and in fact I mention the photographs I took there...

Don't you love the internet.

[barryg]

The local Memphis newspaper The Commercial Appeal has a good story on the opening of the exhibit today. The front page picture is a early 50's BMW road race bike being readied for display by none other than longtime BMW RAMS member Debby Parsons of Jonesboro, Ar. . How many of you are planning to see the exhibit. The showing starts the 23rd .

[naddy100]

I'll be there at some point. I'm about 2.5 hours SE of Memphis. I think this is quite cool to have The Art in Memphis and my appreciation to whoever had the idea and championed it through to delivery.

Noel

[barryg]

Downtown/midtown I-40/240 is finally being widened and the road construction causes the usual delays and frustations. Those riding from the east on 40 westbound; if you see traffic backing up can exit at 2A to the 300 connecter. It deadends at Thomas St./51 hwy; go south/left to Auction St. ; turn right/west to downtown Memphis. You will be 1 block north of Pyamid at Front St. Those coming up I 240 westbound if traffic backs up exit at Union Av. west/exit 30, go west downtown to 3rd St. turn right/north which is oneway to Overton St. Turn left/west you will be in front of Pyrimid. I hope this will help you get downtown if traffic is bad.
Memphis has a monthlong event downtown for the month of May call Memhis in May. They have some good events on the weekendsuch as The world famous Barbaquefest and the Sunset Symphony. The problem is that Riverside Dr, is closed for the entire month of May from Union Av. to Carolina Av. and this can cause the unsuspecting rider much delays getting around downtown, mostly on the weekends. This is just to give you a headsup on downtown traffic. I hope you enjoy your visit to Memphis and the A ofthe M.

[naddy100]

taken (illegally) at the LV show are posted around here somewhere. {Snip}.
This is an innocent question. Please take it that way!

For the Memphis show, photographic permission is available for $2. Was that not the case in Lost Wages? Or, did you get away from the door and find "Wow, I could get some great photos here, but the door is a long ways back!" Incidentally, your photos are indeed great.

Naturally, I plan to take my camera, and maybe when Gnome isn't looking, I'll hop on the Easy Rider chopper and get a blurry photo as though I'm ripping along! Or maybe Gnome can aid my plans!

Noel Addy

[barryg]

Wendesday night is bike night in Memphis; now bikes will be allowed to park on Beale St. on Wendesday night. Beale St. is the heart of the music scene in Memphis. For those of you attemding A ofthe M midweek, this will give you a nice place to enjoy the food and intertainment downtown.

[barryg]

The A of the M got off to a great start last weekend with a opening day ride and party. The local paper has had several good articles in it about the event. The paper had an article in the April 26 issue which featured the legendary Leo Goff of Memphis Motorwerks. Leo's 1995 Ducati Monster is one of the bikes on display. Apparently the bike has some bling-bling on it; as reported by Dr. Larry Reiter. The paper also reported that the Orange County Copper's latest creation; the Lincoln Mark LT will be on display till May 2. I hope to go this weekend to see some of that bling-bling.

[The_Veg]

OK so here's a question: I've been to Memphis once and it seemed like a really cruddy, worn, beat-up city (no offense to those of you who live there and/or love the place). Will it be safe to park my bike at this exhibit and at the campground mentioned? I don't mean to sound like a wuss- I'm quite capable of taking care of myself- but this question DID occur to me so...

[barryg]

Veg I think you will be safe in Memphis. Thousands of people will visit the Pyrimid bike show over the next 6 months and I guess some could have a bad experience here. I know alot of our members travel through Memphis all the time on I-40 and I-55 on their trips and never stop in Memphis. Now they will be stopping for that bike show. I felt that I could help those who stop by giving them this info. The area around the Pyrimid will be well monitered by the local police and other security. I know a lot of our members camp so I listed what I think are two close campgrounds that have all the usual amenities and security. I also know that alot of our members travel on a tight buget and are willing to forgo some amenities to save a buck. That is why I asked Mugs to open their campground to us. I suspect that most riders going there to do so at the end of the day, set their camp up and go to bed. A few may go up and check out the pub, which I think they will like. If you go there, go the bar first and get directions down to the campground. I've made the staff at Mugs aware of the of the possibility of BMW campers. Barry

[Gnome]

I live in the Memphis area and you (the Veg) are very precise in your judgement of Memphis.
Memphis is a crap hole,and I will not say that your bike will be safe in down town Memphis. The first night the Ford Lincoln Truck with the Orange County Choppers was here for the opening of the show,it was broken into right there at the Pyramid.
If I could find something good to say about Memphis I would. One of the worst things is the drivers in this area. The drivers here are some of the worst you will ever have the horror of riding with in traffic, either on a motorcycle, or even while driving a cage. Turn signals don't exist,and when the idiots merge,they ram themselves into traffic from the ramp thinking everyone is suppse to part for them.

Do I hate Memphis? Darn right I do,and if you spend much time here you will too.
I would not camp in or near Memphis for love nor money friend,it is a heavy crime area,and you just may wake up with your throat cut.

Oh yea, I just thought of one thing good here. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It's a jewel!!!

[dlearl476]

OK so here's a question: I've been to Memphis once and it seemed like a really cruddy, worn, beat-up city (no offense to those of you who live there and/or love the place). Will it be safe to park my bike at this exhibit and at the campground mentioned? I don't mean to sound like a wuss- I'm quite capable of taking care of myself- but this question DID occur to me so...

All development/investment in Memphis stopped the day MLK was killed. It stayed that way for a long time. When I first worked there in 1999 it was much like you described it. I just went back and I'm pleased to say a LOT is going on. The area around Beale and Main St. is seeing a lot of development and "lofting". I'm glad to see it, I LOVE Memphis. Especially great is Main St. cause it's STILL 1968.