Abandoned bike culture captured in Philly art exhibit [photos]
The Philadelphia Streets Department conducts regular sweeps to identify and remove abandoned bikes from the city. But between those sweeps, rusted frames, bent tires and other signs of bike neglect can be seen in every neighborhood.
Those abandoned bikes are the focus of The Painted Bride’s new exhibit, “No Bicycle Parking.”
Philadelphia artist Raphael Xavier’s photos show abandoned bikes in cities all over the world over a 10-year period, but many of the photos were taken here.
“This is a sort of viewing; a celebration or service to put all those unanswered questions to rest, so the bike owners can know that the remains of those bikes are beautifully captured, just as when they first laid eyes on them in a Philly store window,” Xavier told The Painted Bride.
The exhibit opened Thursday afternoon and will only be up through Friday evening.
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