Artsy bikes part of downtown ‘fun raiser’

There are fundraisers and then there are fun-raisers. Springfield On The Move and a squad of volunteer artists decorated the downtown Friday with a dozen gaily painted and decorated bicycles, adding a big touch of whimsy, just in time for Springfield Alumni Weekend.

Bart Simpson dropped by the Springfield Town Library with a mini bookmobile.

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PHOTO BY LEN EMERY Decorated bikes bring artsy flair to downtown Springfield. Published June 18, 2016 in the Rutland Herald Artsy bikes part of downtown ‘fun raiser’ By SUSAN SMALLHEER SPRINGFIELD — There are fundraisers and then there are fun-raisers. Springfield On The Move and a squad of volunteer artists decorated the downtown Friday with a dozen gaily painted and decorated bicycles, adding a big touch of whimsy, just in time for Springfield Alumni Weekend. “It’s not a fundraiser,” said one of the volunteer artists, Corky Bond of Springfield, who painted at least two of the dozen or so bikes that popped up Friday. About another eight decorated bicycles are on their way, Bond said. “It’s just to stimulate some interest in the downtown,” said Bond, whose bright-red adult bicycle, decorated with travel stickers, with some decorated boxes strapped on in back, is located near Lawrence & Wheeler Insurance Co. on Main Street. “I had some travel stickers and I thought it would be a good idea,” she said. Another of her creations was placed on the front steps of the Springfield Town Library. Bart Simpson could be seen, in inflatable form, climbing on a kid’s bike, a nod to Springfield’s designation several years ago as the Springfield in “The Simpsons.” The bicycles were donated to the SOM project by individuals and bike shops, even the town’s recycling center. They were mostly in “pretty crummy” shape, Bond said. The bikes look like colorful curios mysteriously left all over town. They are secured to something stable with cable ties, she said. Many of the bikes were decorated with things, which might be stolen, she said. One bicycle at the Town Hall has a baseball mitt attached, she said. The first wave of decorated bicycles were completed by artists Kathy Ehlers, Mary and Malia Findley, Ann Marie Freeman, Wendi Germain and the Springfield Justice Center, Barbi Weaver, and Val Woodbury. Town Manager Tom Yennerell said that there were at least three bicycles outside the Town Hall. Yennerell was delighted with the additions to downtown. “They asked me if there were any safety issues, and I said no — go for it,” he said. One of the bikes, painted bright apple green, hangs from a crab apple tree over the Blue Star Memorial Park. “Junkers are still available for adoption,” the press release from Springfield On The Move concluded. If interested, call SOM at 802-885-1527. http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160618/NEWS02/160619518