With Portland designers reaching increasing levels of polish in
their designs, business acumen, and press clippings, it’s important not
to forget the primordial ooze from which such scenes evolved in
Portland—one of reckless creativity, joie de vivre, and,
frequently, bikes.
This week sees us in the midst of Mini-Bike Winter V, a
five-day festival of crafting, bike games and competitions, dancing,
drinking, and the third annual Mini-Bike Winter Fashion Show (festival runs Thursday-Monday, for more info and complete schedule hit
up zoobomb.net/minibikewinter).
Much more about freedom, costuming, and fun than a serious runway
exhibition, the Mini-Bike Winter Fashion Show is held at an undisclosed
location—anyone interested in seeing the event has to meet under
the west side of the Morrison Bridge and ride as a group to the secret
spot.
According to Reverend Phil, mini-bike advocate and event
organizer, “The entire weekend has taken on a medieval theme: chariots,
torches, and the like.” This carries over to the design theme given to
participants in the fashion show: Metal & Lace. Cycling
enthusiasts from up and down the West Coast are sent to show their
contributions; Phil expects “a massive invasion of Vancouver, BC,
cyclists,” and at least one Los Angeles resident, Jen Diamond,
who designs a line of wicking cycling jerseys and accessories in
reaction to what her website’s manifesto refers to as the “hideous
prints, pastel, and flowers” found in the women’s section of bike
stores (jendiamond.com).
Another of the show’s contributors is Gustav Sculptor. It’s
his first Mini-Bike Fashion Show, and he took the theme as a
jumping-off place to design a metal corset flanked by a large pair of
dragonfly rings. He’s hoping there might be people in the audience
whose interest is piqued enough to check out his other work, an
extensive oeuvre that spans everything from custom woodwork to
sculpture and remodeling under the handle Dancing Devil Design (dancingdevildesign.com).
The results of this design exercise will no doubt be all over the
map, with few practicalities in motion; a fabulously drunken—and
most likely muddy—brainstorm of free-fall ideas, it’s just the
sort of thing that keeps Portland fresh. (Mini-Bike Winter Fashion
Show, Sat Feb 16, meet under the west side of the Morrison Bridge at
7:30 pm, free, donations accepted)