‘I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike’ sang Freddie Mercury and his band Queen, but he would be hard pressed to ride these creations that I discovered on my walk through the Shepparton CBD today.
Shepparton has a burgeoning art scene, and is well known for its painted fibreglass cows that graze throughout the municipality as part of its Mooving Art installation. Today though, the Art Bikes have taken over Shepparton’s CBD.
‘Art Bikes’ is a temporary art installation in Greater Sheppartons Maude Street Mall. Several artists were commissioned by Greater Shepparton City Council to transform and upcycle old BMX and road bikes into works of art to brighten the city ahead of the BMX Australia National Championships and BMX Supercross World Cup events to be hosted by Greater Shepparton in 2019 and 2020.
At the Fryers Street end of the Mall is this very colourful creation by The Glad Wrappers.
At the High Street end of the Mall you will find this skeletal creation by well known artist Tank Art.
Local artist Dylan McIntosh has created the Great Australian BBQ bike. Speaking with Dylan he tells me that he was inspired to create something that reflected the Aussie way of life – BBQ’s, Esky’s to keep the drinks cold, thongs and the blasted blowflies that often accompany a get together over a BBQ.
I won’t give the location away but on your walk through the Mall keep your eyes open for the Bat Bike by Tank Art.
Other artists that have supplied Art Bikes include Three Bags Full and St Anne’s College.
The Art Bikes are on display in the Maude St Mall during the BMX National Championships until 25 May 2019. After this date they will be stored at the Shepparton Motor Museum and form part of the Australian BMX temporary exhibition which will run from May 2019 – January 2020.
Getting there:
Shepparton is easily reached by car from Melbourne via the Hume and Goulburn Valley Highways in a little over 2 hours.
Public Transport Victoria provides a connection from Melbourne via V/Line train and / or coach. Contact V/Line for details. https://www.vline.com.au/
out and about in Victoria 
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