Art Bikers
We are currently working on our archives, this is an ongoing initiative.
We are currently working on our archives, this is an ongoing initiative.
Artist Merle Harley was commissioned by Wonder’neath Art Society to create a soft textile sculpture highlighting the legacy of 13 years of consistent community-based arts programming by the Art Bikers program in Kjipuktuk/Halifax area. With beautiful craftwork creating rich imagery, this interactive piece, Tracing Routes, unfolds for its audience to discover pockets, pull-outs, and hidden treasures that share stories of artistic collaboration across many years and communities. Completed in the fall of 2020, the artwork is approximately 4’ x 4.5’, with 9 pockets each containing smaller works representing different projects created through quilting, weaving, sewable circuits, cyanotype, and printmaking. Tracing Routes is at once a celebration, a history, and an invitation to participation that will serve as a catalyst for conversations around socially engaged practice, and honour grassroots collaborative making.
Merle Harley works slowly, makes things, and tries to befriend snakes. A chaos creature with too many projects and no fixed medium they create with anything readily available. Merle has done projects using knitting, weaving, comics, book projects, videos pieces and built structures. They are currently focused on pen and paper drawing a series of comics based around a snake who lives in a swamp and a squirrel who can’t leave a tree. Who knows what they will do next. Merle is a 2014 graduate of NSCAD University. They have exhibited work across Canada and beyond with an ongoing dedication to their artistic practice and is an active member of the community art scene in Lunenburg, Halifax and Toronto. Merle also has extensive experience facilitating workshops and coordinating community art programs such as Art Bikers, Wonder’neath Open Studio, Jumblies Theatre and Shadowland Theatre. Catch them on the shoreline as they zip back and forth between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Ontario.
Wonder’neath Art Society and the Art Bikers program are situated in Kjipuktuk, in unceded and unsurrendered Mi’kmaq territory.
Art Bikers is a mobile community arts program delivered by bicycle and trailer to public green spaces in greater Kjipuktuk/Halifax by a team of trained artist facilitators. Developed by artists Terri Whetstone and Jesse Harrod on behalf of the 4Cs Foundation in 2006, the program has completed 13 consecutive seasons and has been delivered by Wonder’neath since 2017.
Much thanks to Morgan Bath for her research and development of this interactive exhibit.
The Art Bikers will be setting up at the North Grove Friday, August 27 from 1:30-3PM. We will have all the materials on hand to create a fun art project. We are excited to create some art outdoors together! All ages are welcome!
The Art Bikers will be doing pop-up art activities on site in front of the Mulgrave Park Caring and Learning Centre every other week throughout the summer starting July 14th through to August 25th. Come make some art with us while you get your bike tuned up with the pop-up bike hub who will be on-site every week!
This is the last of three outdoor celebratory gatherings taking place in different parks focused on clothing repair and reuse. With additional volunteer crew members from each community, Art Bikers will bring donated materials and tools for mending used clothing. The team will share techniques and encourage skill sharing amongst participants in creative, fun, sustainable ways to make items useful again. Stains, holes and broken parts, Art Bikers will work alongside participants to screenprint, embroider, and replace buttons and broken zippers.
Curious about screen printing? We have partnered with the Youth Project to offer a FREE screen printing workshop on August 17th at Wonder'neath (2482 Maynard Street) for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth!!! This workshop will run from 1-4pm and will be facilitated by the Art Bikers as well as YP staff. Bring your own shirt, tote bag, or other fabric item to screen print on (we will have some shirts available as well!)! Spots are limited so send @nsyouthproject a direct message on Instagram or email skye@youthproject.ns.ca to reserve your spot!
This is the second of three outdoor celebratory gatherings taking place in different parks focused on clothing repair and reuse. With additional volunteer crew members from each community, Art Bikers will bring donated materials and tools for mending used clothing. The team will share techniques and encourage skill sharing amongst participants in creative, fun, sustainable ways to make items useful again. Stains, holes and broken parts, Art Bikers will work alongside participants to screenprint, embroider, and replace buttons and broken zippers.
The Art Bikers will be setting up at the North Grove Friday, August 13 from 1:30-3PM. We will have all the materials on-hand to create a fun art project. We are excited to create some art outdoors together! All ages are welcome!
The Art Bikers will be doing pop-up art activities on site in front of the Mulgrave Park Caring and Learning Centre every other week throughout the summer starting July 14th through to August 25th. Come make some art with us while you get your bike tuned up with the pop-up bike hub who will be on-site every week!
This is the first of three outdoor celebratory gatherings taking place in different parks focused on clothing repair and reuse. With additional volunteer crew members from each community, Art Bikers will bring donated materials and tools for mending used clothing. The team will share techniques and encourage skill sharing amongst participants in creative, fun, sustainable ways to make items useful again. Stains, holes and broken parts, Art Bikers will work alongside participants to screenprint, embroider, and replace buttons and broken zippers.
The Art Bikers will be setting up at the North Grove Friday, July 16 from 1:30-3PM. We will have all the materials on-hand to create a fun project such as quilting, weaving, lantern-making, or creating a collaborative recipe book. We are excited to create some art outdoors together! All ages are welcome!
The Art Bikers will be doing pop-up art activities on-site in front of the Mulgrave Park Caring and Learning Centre every other week throughout the summer starting July 14th through to August 25th. Come make some art with us while you get your bike tuned up with the pop-up bike hub who will be on-site every week!
The Art Bikers will be setting up beside the playground at Fort Needham Park with some birdhouses that you can paint and bring home to hang outdoors!
The Art Bikers will be setting up at the North Grove Friday, July 16 from 1:30-3 PM. We will have all the materials on-hand to create a fun project such as quilting, weaving, lantern-making, or creating a collaborative recipe book. We are excited to create some art outdoors together! All ages are welcome!
The Art Bikers will be doing pop-up art activities on-site in front of the Mulgrave Park Caring and Learning Centre every other week throughout the summer starting July 14th through to August 25th. Come make some art with us while you get your bike tuned up with the pop-up bike hub who will be on-site every week!
The Art Bikers will be drawing some sidewalk games on the pavement at the Salter Yards on the Harbourfront, as part of the Waterfront Play Day Event. We will be handing out free handmade booklets for children and families to collect games throughout the day or throughout the summer!
This map was created by the 4Cs Foundation to highlight the Art Bikers Program and all of the community locations they reached.