Full Archive of The Art Bikers Blog

For ease of access to all of the posts made on the Art Bikers Blog from the 4Cs Foundation’s archive including Wonder’neath Art Society’s blog posts in 2019, you can follow the links below or search for keywords in the search bar at the bottom of our page.

Thank you for your interest in the History of the Art Bikers program, to find out what the Art Bikers are up to this season check out the Art Bikers’ Social Media Pages on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. For more information about the Art Bikers Program visit our Art Bikers Page.

A New Permanent Home at Wonder’neath

May 21, 2020 ~ For Immediate Release ~ Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada
Today the 4Cs Foundation with Wonder’neath Art Society is pleased to announce that the much-loved Art Bikers program has a new permanent home at Wonder’neath.

The Art Bikers program - a mobile bicycle and trailer based art program - was started by the 4Cs Foundation in 2007 to provide free art making opportunities in neighbourhoods and communities throughout HRM. Under the visionary leadership of artists Jesse Harrod and 4Cs Executive Director/Artist, Terri Whetstone the program was designed to provide arts programming at a community level that broke down barriers and was accessible to all. Additionally, the program provided well-paid summer jobs to young artists and University students training them in arts-based community development and community work at the same time.

Over its thirteen-year history, Art Bikers has become well-known and deeply appreciated by the communities it serves. More than 15,000 children, families and community members have taken part in art-making activities in their neighbourhoods and at special events and festivals.

In 2017, 4Cs Foundation entered into a management agreement with Wonder’neath Art Society for the ongoing delivery of the program on 4Cs behalf. Both parties held an interest in ensuring the Art Bikers program continued well into the future, and that led to discussions of a “transfer of ownership” of the program from 4Cs to Wonder’neath.

We are pleased to share with the public that this transfer is now complete with Wonder’neath Art Society committing to maintaining the legacy of this much-loved program and its delivery to the benefit of our communities.

This summer is the 14th summer of Art Bikers. As Covid-19 has called upon all of us to make adjustments to our lives, the program will be modified for safe practices this year. In the coming days, check Wonder’neath’s webpage http://www.wonderneath.com/art-bikers-page for details and updates on the Art Bikers program.

4Cs Foundation wishes to express its gratitude to Jesse Harrod, all the Art Bikers staff over the years, and the many community participants of all ages who have made this program what it is. We know you celebrate its achievements with us. We also congratulate Wonder’neath Art Society for its commitment and vision to carry the Art Biker legacy forward.

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Terri Whetstone, Executive director 4Cs Foundation4csfoundation1@gmail.com
902-422-4805

Melissa Marr/Heather Wilkinson, Co-Artistic and Co-Executive Directors
Wonder’neath Art Societywonderneath@gmail.com

902-454-6860

Annual Africville Picnic

Bright, beautiful flags and banners created this past July 2019 with families at the annual Africville Picnic! It’s such an honour to be invited to facilitate an art project at this reunion.

Bright, beautiful flags and banners created this past July 2019 with families at the annual Africville Picnic! It’s such an honour to be invited to facilitate an art project at this reunion.

Getting all set up to explore stamping, folding and dyeing!

Getting all set up to explore stamping, folding and dyeing!

A quick rinse will make the colours pop and the designs will be in full contrast!

A quick rinse will make the colours pop and the designs will be in full contrast!

Once the fabric comes out of the rinse water, it’s ready to dry and be attached by grommet to a bamboo poll!

Once the fabric comes out of the rinse water, it’s ready to dry and be attached by grommet to a bamboo poll!

In full flag-waving celebration!

In full flag-waving celebration!

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Thank you to the community of Africville! Over 100 flags were made and filled the park in just a few hours!

Thank you to the community of Africville! Over 100 flags were made and filled the park in just a few hours!

Celebrating Bike Week with Highly Visible Results!

The Art Bikers are so excited to meet participants for their first pop up event of the year!

The Art Bikers are so excited to meet participants for their first pop up event of the year!

Behind the scenes, in the studio…

Ahead of Art Bikers field work with participants, there is an intensive and joyous creation period of research, design, testing, playing, and problem solving in the studio. Considering how to ensure children and adults alike have fun in their artistic creations is really important to Art Bikers. Also, they have to factor in weather — hot sun and blustery wind — that is just as eager to participate in our projects as the folks we encounter in public spaces!

Centred on spontaneous creativity and fun, collaboration and learning, Art Bikers Summer 13 team is eager to bring their passion for art making to public parks and places. This summer, look for the team in Dartmouth North, Africville, Fairview, Clayton Park, The Dartmouth Pizza Oven, Glen Garden, Mulgrave Park and so many other spots! We’ll be posting our schedule as soon as it is finalized.

At Salma's request, we applied a blur filter to her image to respect her updated photo consent. (September 2024)

At the Halifax North Common…

It was a genuine gift to hold space for participants to create original designs in renowned Mi’kmaw artist, filmmaker, musician and social justice advocate Alan Syliboy’s installation called Mi’kmaw Sign Post. This interactive art was created in par…

It was a genuine gift to hold space for participants to create original designs in renowned Mi’kmaw artist, filmmaker, musician and social justice advocate Alan Syliboy’s installation called Mi’kmaw Sign Post. This interactive art was created in partnership with The Deanery Project and Halifax Regional Municipality. Find out more about the artist and his participation in Our Common Woods placemaking project here: http://thedeaneryproject.com/our-common-woods/

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After riding to the North Common, the Art Bikers set up and got ready to claim some space in the great outdoors! Pinnies could be seen across the park and caught the attention of approximately 70 people who participated in making their very own design! Huge thanks to Halifax Bike Week for their support of this activity! Awarding us a grant for materials for this project meant we were able to create innovative, adjustable pinnies for cyclists of all sizes.

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First stop, the outdoor fitting station! Pick your favourite pinnie, try it on, twirl in the sun and cheer!

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Designing one of a kind paper stencils and learning about how screen printing works with Art Bikers Salma and Undine.

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Frist challenge: how to get an idea onto the page to be translated into bold shapes cut out for the stencil. Art Biker Sorrel is there to support!

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Print time! The best part is pulling your first print and seeing the surprise of the big reveal! Adults love it as much as kids! Artist Devon looks on in support, guiding the process.

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Veteran Art Biker Eric braces the screen for this eager cat!

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It was a busy stretch with participants really getting into their work!

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And after all that work, it’s time to try on and celebrate these bold pinnies!

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Folks were thrilled with the results and eager for biking safely off to other Halifax Bike Week activities!

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Pictured here: some cycling enthusiasts in the latest visibility wear, compliments of the Art Bikers!

Not pictured here: the incredible family of parents and children catching up to — and riding partway like ducklings behind — Art Bikers as they cycled back to the studio! This family was a total highlight, among many, at Art Bikers’ first event of the year! Kind thank you to all the folks who joined us and to the 4Cs Foundation for supporting such an incredible program.

Bike Week: First Event of the Season!

DATE: Saturday, June 8th, 2019

TIME: From 1-4pm

LOCATION: Emera Oval, Halifax North Commons

DETAILS: As part of Bike Week, Art Bikers are hosting our first pop up to promote safety on the road! Young cyclists are encouraged to join us in making bright, colourful safety vests — with unique silkscreened designs — so they can be seen while biking.

This free event is open to all, and we look forward to meeting you to celebrate the beginning of Season 13!

Be safe and seen this summer while you ride!

Be safe and seen this summer while you ride!

Add your very own design to your vest! Art Bikers will teach you our favourite paper stencil method for silkscreening a picture onto bright green and orange vests! All supplies are included.

Meet our 2019 Art Bikers: Undine, Eric, Salma, Sorrel and Devon! And celebrate Bike Week!

Highlights of training

This season’s Art Bikers team has been busy in various training sessions that include time to understand the goals of the program; community arts and community building; safety in the studio, while traveling together by bicycle, and while working in the field with participants of all ages; exploring various art mediums; anti-oppression and intercultural competency; and bicycle maintenance — among others. It’s a deep period of learning, reflection and skill building in anticipation of the dynamic season ahead.

The training period — which lasts almost a month — is also a time for the Art Bikers to begin collaborating, understand how best to support one another, get oriented and help support a healthy and vibrant studio ecology, and bring their skills and talents to the team. The Art Bikers develop a Working Together Agreement that creates a framework for strong communication, emotional/physical/spiritual wellbeing, and strategies for thriving in their fieldwork alongside participants.

Here are a few highlights from training, so far, in Season 13.

A moment of radical joy in celebrating the learnings from the anti-oppression workshop by South House facilitator Carmel!

At Salma's request, we applied a blur filter to her image to respect her updated photo consent. (September 2024)



Thank you for following Art Bikers!

Art Bikers is a 4Cs Foundation legacy program. We are excited to begin Season 13, programming all over Halifax Regional Municipality in the summer of 2019!

We no longer use this site for updates, but please find a link to our new Art Bikers blog here:

http://www.wonderneath.com/art-bikers-blog

We would love to hear your ideas and feedback! To contact us:


Call: 902-454-6860 (studio) or 782-234-5489 (mobile)

Email: artbikers@gmail.com

Mail:

Art Bikers
c/o Wonder'neath Art Society
2891 Isleville Street
Halifax, NS
B3K 3X6

Are you interested in making a donation to support Art Bikers? 

Please follow this link:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/wonderneath-art-society/


Thank you for your support!

At Salma's request, we applied a blur filter to her image to respect her updated photo consent. (September 2024)

Welcome to the Summer 2019 Art Bikers Blog!

Season 13 Art Bikers!

Update: At Salma's request, we applied a blur filter to her image to respect her updated photo consent. (September 2024)

Art Bikers is a mobile community arts program founded by 4Cs Foundation and run in partnership (since 2017) with Wonder’neath Art Society.

Begun in 2007, Art Bikers has been building community through all ages art programming throughout Halifax Regional Municipality in parks and public green spaces.

Art Bikers’ studio is located at 2891 Isleville Street, in Halifax’s north end.

Contact us:

By phone: 902-454-6860

By mobile: 782-234-5489

By email: artbikers@gmail.com

Follow us on social media

Instagram @artbikers

Facebook facebook.com/artbikers

Twitter @artbikersevents

Art Bikers 2019: Now hiring! 4 positions!

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Be part of the 4Cs Foundation legacy program! We are eager to share the details about our upcoming summer Art Bikers positions. For more information, please follow the link below. Deadlines are April 24th & 25th depending on the position.

If you do not have access to a hybrid bicycle, but are otherwise qualified, please apply and we will track down a bicycle for the summer. Questions: call 902-454-6860

wonderneath.com/art-bikers

Season 12 Farewell!

Thank you to all the participants, supporters, and community organizations that worked with Art Bikers during the summer! We were thrilled to reunite with families and return to magical gardens and green spaces throughout the city! We were also delighted to meet new faces and make art together throughout the hot summer months! Thank you all! Stay tuned for more photos, recaps and sharing on the blog in the next week.

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As we wrap up this summer's program, we welcome your ideas, suggestions, photos and feedback year round!

Wonder'neath Art Society was thrilled to be a part of the Art Bikers program for the second year in a row and we are deeply appreciative of the opportunity to work with 4Cs Foundation in support of this beautiful program.

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Mural Repair at Bayers Westwood

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Art Bikers are excited to be returning to the community of Bayers Westwood Friday, August 17th from 11:30am-3:30pm for mural repair work! A fresh batch of paints have been sourced and mixed. Aprons, brushes, drop cloths and tools are all packed, and we can't wait to work together on this mural!

This will be Art Bikers last trip to Bayers Westwood drop by to say hi, or put on an old shirt and a sun hat and join us in brightening up this fabulous mural. All welcome! No painting experience necessary!

Schedule Change

We are concerned about the extreme heat/humidity and possibility of lightening on Thursday, August 16th.

YIKES!!

Instead of biking to the Pizza Oven in Dartmouth - where we were scheduled to be - the studio will be open from 2-4pm for Pizza bunting making! Add your favourite pizza toppings to our awesome pizza-themed bunting and then Art Bikers will deliver it to the Pizza Oven once it's done! The studio address is: 2891 Isleville Street, in north end Halifax.

Upcoming:

Bayers Westwood mural repair on Friday, August 17th from 11:30-3:30.
Ardmore Park (at Almon and Oxford Street, Halifax) ...more cats

Saturday, August 18 from 11:30-3:30.

Last Visit to the Green in Fairview

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Art Bikers will be visiting the Green today, Wednesday, August 15th from 11:30am - 3:30pm! It's the last visit of the summer to one of our favourite spots in the city! Please join us in making comics! At the request of folks at this location, we will be drawing and telling stories - both large scale and small scale in a collaborative book and a whole batch of mini comic books!

Welcome To This Place - a national art project

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The Art Bikers team is excited to be joining community members, artists, and ISANS and Mabelle Arts for the Halifax launch of Welcome to this Place - a national art project.

Please join us August 10 from 2-4pm for Cyanotype Printing (an historic contact print method using sun and natural objects!) at Glen Garden in Clayton Park. We'll be turning our prints into buttons and then joining in the picnic from 4-6pm. All welcome, free, interpreters on site!

For more information, check out these links or see contact details on the poster.

http://www.isans.ca/get-involved/community-gardens/
http://www.mabellearts.ca/…/25/welcome-to-this-place-toronto

Pop Up at Mosaic Garden with ISANS and Garden Friends!

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Art Bikers will be working alongside staff of ISANS at the Mosaic Garden August 8th from 12-3:15pm. The location of Mosaic Garden is 28 Willet Street in Fairview and there's lots of shelter if the weather is uncooperative!

Join Art Bikers and friends in making garden-inspired costumes and props to animate the ISANS garden parade later this season. All welcome: all ages, all levels of artistic experience. Free!

Isleville Park Community BBQ & Halifax Bikeweek Updates

Pop-up events are a great way for Art Bikers to test ideas and connect with various communities and groups across the Halifax region. This year, we were invited to join the Halifax Cycling Coalition at the Commons for Bike Week Halifax.

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Joined by children and families enjoying a sunny evening at the Oval, we created bike and scooter wheel designs that flashed and swirled as wheels turned. This was a delight for younger children especially!

New signage welcoming folks in multiple languages was a great source of conversation as folks recognized their language or characters from their alphabet!

The North End Community Circle’s Annual Isleville Park BBQ is always a well-attended community event! This year, Art Bikers set up a dynamic and interactive pop-up postcard exchange inspired by an art project called City Mail*.

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With a temporary post office, mailbox, and mail carrier bags, there were jobs for everyone to do!

This is our very first letter carrier about to deliver the first Isleville Postcard! Who's the lucky recipient?! Councillor Lindell Smith!

Writing and mailing postcards within the park, tracking down recipients, gathering and sorting kept everyone very busy and engaged.

We had volunteers from the community delivering silkscreened “Isleville Post” postcards all through the event! Councillor Lindell Smith was among the lucky recipients!

A highlight was sharing postcards with maintenance crew members and firefighters!


An extra special thanks to all of the children, teens, and community leaders who helped animate this project!* Artist Alison Creba and friends are inspiration for Isleville Post. Creba’s Citymail was a project that happened in Halifax and by invitation at festivals and events in Atlantic Canada. Alison Creba was also an Art Biker for three seasons, from 2007 - 2009!

Art Bikers Season 12 Extra Training Highlights!

So as we've highlighted on the blog earlier, the beginning of the Art Bikers season is all about training! Because the Art Bikers program is designed with lots of learning and exploration in mind, a range of workshops and skill shares take place over the first several weeks in support of the facilitation the artists will do in neighbourhoods all around the Halifax area. Here's a window into those first few weeks:


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This year, Art Bikers participated in a Child Development Workshop led by Sheila Davis who works with young children at Bryony House. Sheila helped us understand different stages of child development, and responded to some of our questions about past work with children and families.

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Art Bikers have the opportunity to work with new Canadians and families from a range of places. We encounter many languages in our fieldwork and want to welcome everyone, so we participated in a Non-Verbal Communication Workshop with dancer and actor Liliona Quarmyne. She helped us develop awareness about our body language and gestures. Through role playing and theatre games, we learned so much about ranges of emotions, inclusion, and expression.

Art Bikers work from a community development perspective and an anti-oppression framework.
This season’s Anti-Oppression Training was with Carmella Farahbakhsh from South House.
Art Bikers asked Carmella how to develop and think more about anti-oppressive language and
how to help connect and share the stories of our participants.

Other highlights included joining ISANS for their Building Intercultural Competence Workshop, having
our Basic First Aid Training updated, and a whole host of skill shares that let us share our facilitation
skills; a favourite project, art medium or idea; and a brainstorming session to dream big and imagine
these new skills in our work with communities.

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After a Basic Screenprinting Workshop, Art Bikers joined Wonder’neath in their annual tradition of
screenprinting tshirts with grade one students at Saint Joseph’s A. MacKay Elementary School.
We taught students how to make paper stencil designs using geometric shapes to create a unique tshirt.

Former Art Biker Merle Harley, and current staff Eric Diolola, led us in a Community Mapping Workshop
that embraced teachings from both Jumblies Theatre in Toronto and their respective art/music practices.
This allowed us to learn more about each other and explore our vulnerabilities.

Our beginning of season pop-ups included Switch! Dartmouth, Halifax Bike Week, O’Baby at the Khyber
as part of the Obey Convention, and the Annual Isleville BBQ.

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Other highlights included:

  • a program overview by co-founder Terri Whetstone;

  • book binding by Imogene;

  • mindfulness by Devon;

  • sound exploration by Eric;

  • mapping our skills, talents, gifts by Terri;

  • and stop motion animation by Jessica!

Our beginning of season pop-ups included Switch! Dartmouth, Halifax Bike Week, O’Baby at the Khyber
as part of the Obey Convention, and the Annual Isleville BBQ.

We also developed a Working Together Agreement that highlights the emotional, physical, and spiritual
needs of the team. We do this to better understand each other and to anticipate the needs of people we
will encounter throughout our work during the summer.

Now that our season is underway, we will keep you posted about our upcoming locations and projects!

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