My Leathers - A Bikers Poem

My Leathers

My leathers have been with me since I started motorcycling,

I tend to wear them whenever I’m riding.

They are faded from the elements, stretched and saggy from use,

but they still keep me from taking abuse.

My leathers bare the scars, scrapes and abrasions from a few slips and some spills,

and my leathers still keep me warm from those morning chills.

Despite them being my body guard we have become old friends,

going on long rides together taking on hills, valleys and bends.

My leathers have sheltered me from the rain and from the fog,

they even have blocked the bite of an angry dog.

They have protected me from flying rocks and from bugs,

and have been on the receiving end of many hugs.

My leathers have shaded me from the blistering sun,

on a long, dry and hot Texas run.

Over time they have become supple and comfortable like a well broken in boot,

as a bonus, there’s a place for my gun in case I need to shoot.

My leathers are getting old, wrinkly and are slightly tattered,

but they continue to protect me from getting battered.

They have screened me from the wind,

and they will stay with me to the end.

But at the end of this long ride,

it’s not just a cows hide,

It’s my skin.

© 2012 - Torch

Ride on,

Torch

Asger jorn's BSA

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Text by Emmanuel Brunet


Asger Jorn (1914-1973), founder of the Cobra movement in 1948 and probably Denmark's most celebrated 20th century artist. He spent much of his life in France, where during the 1930s he studied at Fernand Léger's studio. In the 1950s and 1960s he played a leading role in several avant-garde movements, most notably the International Movement for an Imaginist Bauhaus (1953-1957) and the International Situationist (1957-1960).
We were passionate about the Cobra movement and other partners for their vitality and their community spirit (international networks and friendships, self-help - a coming together of all the brightest minds of the period).

These personalities and their friends were a synthesis and conclusion of the Modern Art of the twentieth century.
A small group and an immense work of freedom, poetry and all mediums were used (collage - painting - drawing - writing - including their text references - planning - architecture - cinema - provocations - leaflets - butterflies - posters) everything used!

Cobra is also "free calligraphy", the mix: medieval culture and Nordic + primitive art + art brut + unbridled spontaneity and rejection of specialization.
Also their not so colorful abstract expressionism and sense of humor was devastating!



- Asger Jorn and Christian Dotremont were members of the "International Situationist" (the most unique movement in the history of modern art and philosophy / contemporary politics).
- Karel Appel and Pierre Alechinsky them being two of the greatest painters and modern sculptors.

Cobra is the exact opposite of "Cocoon Cool and Arts Décoratifs" that has pervaded the modern world.

Stalingrad

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Robert Smithson: The Spiral Jetty 1970

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I recently visited the Museum of contemporary Art in my home town to view Bernar Venets private collection dating from the 1960's and 70's.
Amongst the collection I was particularly attracted to a series of photographs entitled 'The Spiral Jetty 1970'

Back at home further research confirmed the Spiral Jetty to be the work of Artist Robert Smithson and located in the North east area of Great Salk Lake Utah, known locally as Rozel Point, and at opposite ends to where the land speed trials are held.

Robert Smithson intended his 'Land Art' as an alternative to the mainstream art largely exhibited by gallerys, museums and the New York art scene at the time. Ironically, a sudden rise in water levels on the lake obliterated Spiral Jetty for almost four decades during which time it was almost completely forgotten until water levels receeded again in 2006.

Smithson who sadly died in a plane crash in 1973, chose the location due to its desert surroundings far removed from civilisation.

Today the landmark can easily be located by satelite Navigation and is a two hour drive from Salt Lake City, and I have already made it one of my places to visit on my next trip to the Salt Lake.

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Dan Colen at Gagosian Gallery

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Koons and BMW

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This Wednesday afternoon, Jeff Koons presented the 17th BMW Le Mans project to a group of fans and supporters at the forum of Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. This was the continuation of the love affair between the American Art Tycoon and France. One remembers the incredible megalomaniac but outstanding exhibition of Koons at the Chateau de Versailles two years ago. The Koons car takes place near other art cars, a commission launched by auctionneer Hervé Poulain for BMW in 1975. First (and best?) project was by Alexander Calder , followed by other sharp pieces by Frank Stella (1976), Roy Lichtenstein (1977), and Robert Rauschenberg (1986). Less interesting projects were done by Andy Warhol (1979), AR Penck (1991) and a couple of totally missed cars by David Hockney (1995) and Sandro Chia (1992). Our favorite one remains Jenny Holzer (1999) that will probably be surpassed by Koons and his magnetic PR power. 7-8 other cars were done but deserve nothing but invisibility. Now, you can get these cars as 1:18 models and they are great. Think when the Koons 1:18 comes out, buy it, get it signed and give to your kid in a sealed box that he can open only in 30 years. Then he will be capable to buy himself a new house or even better, a vintage Norton from the early mid-century. Call this a friendly advice. The M3 GT2 will race on the Circuit Bugatti June 12th & 13 th. Let's wish it NOT to crash as a work of art of that value could put an insurance company on one knee.
YJH






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the dreams of Elvio Patuano

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Photos Vincent Debacker



The work of Elvio Patuano is one of my recent discoveries at the last Retromobile in Paris, chance and internet allowed to meet recently by phone.



Elvio designs and creates sculptures and models that he would like to find on tables in swap meets,lounges,galleries or simply in the bottom of a box!
He tries to put his dreams in 3D, when constructing these speed boats, design in wax a motorcyle, he is inside of them, the smell of oil, gasoline, exhaust sounds .. . throughout their implementation.


This universe allows him to meet people as passionate as him by his visions ...
Its mechanical world is composed of forms, images, technology, aesthetics, color, and state of mind, as set by the speed or at least its evocation, which are referenced to the 20 / 30s for boats up to 70s for motorcycle bronzes.
For the purposes of his accomplishments, Elvio work with several materials, wax for modeling before molding, wood, aluminum alloy, silver for smaller pieces and of course the bronze.

In 2007, an American customer invited him to drive Baby bootlegger (mythical runabout), and other racers as Vogler Boy Imp ..... The dream came true !!!!.


Elvio is also a biker, its 3 bikes (Harley Davidson WLC, 883, Triumph Speed Triple) plus one racer in progress, he ride every day for over 40 years.

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Conrad Leach

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The first time i saw Conrad's works it was during the last Legend of the motorcycles in Half Moon Bay, Cal. where had been invited. This guy is really an unbelievable arist, i invite you to take a look on hi paintings and if you're going to London take time to find him.
I ask Conrad to give the Southsiders a brief story on him, so enjoy.

Norton jack & Conrad

BIKEWORKS

“The Legend of the Motorcycle, The Ritz – Cartlon, Half Moon Bay, California, USA.
May 2008
Conrad Leach was invited to debut a new selection of paintings reflecting his love of motorcycle culture at the Legend of the Motorcycle 2008 event.
The event brings together a selection of privately owned classic motorcycles in the spirit of a ‘Concourse D’Elegance’ style event held over a weekend at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Half Moon Bay, California.”
The subjects of the paintings were :
Norton Jack – The golden age of racing at Brooklands in England.
Banner Racers – Classic 60’s American Road racing.
Lucky 13 – The start of competitive racing in America.
Wyatt – A Tribute to Easy Rider star Peter Fonda.
All paintings were large scale Acrylic on Canvas.
Also available as a series of box framed Giclee prints.

Brooklands George final canvas

Norton Jack

Lucky 13final canvas

Brookland George – Produced for Dunhill, London, 2008 - George Cohen (Norton Single Guru) on his Brooklands inspired ‘Silver Nob”.

SPEEDWORKS

An ongoing series of works produced for the Gauntlett Gallery (see attached info sheet).
Gauntlett Gallery is owned by Richard Gauntlett son of the late Victor Gauntlet (previous owner of Aston Martin Motor Company, UK.).
Gauntlett Gallery are My European representation.
A show with Gauntlett is planned in London in 2010.

Gauntlett Gallery, London

Bluebird final canvas

POP UKIYO-E

An ongoing series of works produced with Hisato ‘Casper’Hamada (my agent in Asia).
Blending western aesthetic with traditional Japanese iconography -
There is a show planned in Tokyo at the end of 2010.

Hata 3 panels no background

Mr Hata and Conrad at the Grosvenor

Whant to see more, his website : http://www.conradleach.com/


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Martin Heukeshoven: Rust lover

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Among the exhibitors at the 2010 Retromobile Paris, I was struck by the work of the artist Martin Otto Heukeshoven Lambert, born in 1962 Uetersen, he lives since 1969 in southern Germany.
After receiving training in lithography and reproduction, he worked in graphic arts and illustration and computer graphics and finally antiques and objects restoration

In 1995 building of the first corroded vehicle , inspired by travel and a taste for the Vintage things are the main elements of his inspiration.
The sculptures of Martin are alive and mystics like these old cars found in scrapyards.
The realism is striking.

http://martin-heukeshoven.de

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Bridges to East L.A.

Address: St. Louis St. and E 1st St.
Artist: Ernesto de la Loza
Sponsor: LACAD, L.A. Recovery Fund
Keywords: exterior, community, cultural, political, mural
Area: East L.A./Monterey Park (mural number 88 in Street Gallery).

Re-enactment

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Retro and Revival Style Today. An exhibition of photography, fashion and motorcycles.



Featuring: Ryo Bamba, Nick Clements, William Gentle, Matt Hind, Nathan Small and yours truly.

Monday 14th - Sunday 20th September 2009.
The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London E1 6QL.
Free Admission.

Sponsored by Men's File magazine (http://www.mensfile.com/)

Jasper Johns

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Jasper Johns, Jr. (born May 15, 1930 in Augusta, Georgia) is an American contemporary artist who works primarily in painting and printmaking. He is represented by the Matthew Marks Gallery.
He is best known for his painting Flag (1954-55), which he painted after having a dream of the American flag. His work is often described as a Neo-Dadaist, as opposed to pop art, even though his subject matter often includes images and objects from popular culture. Still, many compilations on pop art include Jasper Johns as a pop artist because of his artistic use of classical iconography.



Early works were composed using simple schema such as flags, maps, targets, letters and numbers. Johns' treatment of the surface is often lush and painterly; he is famous for incorporating such media as encaustic (wax-based paint), and plaster relief in his paintings. Johns played with and presented opposites, contradictions, paradoxes, and ironies, much like Marcel Duchamp (who was associated with the Dada movement). Johns also produces intaglio prints, sculptures and lithographs with similar motifs.



Johns' breakthrough move, which was to inform much later work by others, was to appropriate popular iconography for painting, thus allowing a set of familiar associations to answer the need for subject. Though the Abstract Expressionists disdained subject matter, it could be argued that in the end, they had simply changed subjects. Johns neutralized the subject, so that something like a pure painted surface could declare itself. For twenty years after Johns painted Flag, the surface could suffice - for example, in Andy Warhol's silkscreens, or in Robert Irwin's illuminated ambient works.



Abstract Expressionist figures like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning ascribed to the concept of a macho "artist hero", and their paintings are indexical in that they stand effectively as a signature on canvas. In contrast, Neo-Dadaists like Johns and Rauschenberg seemed preoccupied with a lessening of the reliance of their art on indexical qualities, seeking instead to create meaning solely through the use of conventional symbols. Some have interpreted this as a rejection of the hallowed individualism of the Abstract Expressionists. Their works also imply symbols existing outside of any referential context. Johns' Flag, for instance, is primarily a visual object, divorced from its symbolic connotations and reduced to something in-itself.



In 1998, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York bought Johns' White Flag. While the Met would not disclose how much was paid, "experts estimate [the painting's] value at more than $20 million." In 2006, private collectors Anne and Kenneth Griffin (founder of the Chicago-based hedge fund Citadel Investment Group) bought Johns' False Start for $80 million, making it the most expensive painting by a living artist.



The National Gallery of Art acquired about 1,700 of Johns' proofs in 2007. This made the Gallery home to the largest number of Johns' works held by a single institution. The exhibition showed works from many points in Johns' career, including recent proofs of his prints.

In spring 2008, a ten-year retrospective of Johns' drawings was mounted at New York City's Matthew Marks Gallery.

Jeff Decker website

The long awaited Jeff Decker's Website is finally done.