30th Century Bicycle

So, the word is happily out. Steve & I are opening a bike shop in Iowa City. We just got our lease signed, and tomorrow we will be rolling up our sleeves to get the space ready to open in late April. I will finish my contract with the school district, so I won't be full time at the shop until June. In the meantime it will be a one-Steve show.

We will focus on commuting and touring. My two personal favorites.

Shoot an Iraqi: Art, Life and Resistance Under the Gun by Wafaa Bilal


I've read some great and powerful books this year, but this is by far the most important. Wafaa has provided insight to an international audience the incalculable effects of living with war, and he demonstrates how art is interlaced through every facet of life. As an American living a comfortable and easy life, there is nothing I can write here that will do justice to what this book means. Without a doubt Shoot an Iraqi is a must-read. For everyone.


View all my reviews.

Hey, I forgot to mention that I've been guest blogging over at Moscaline, a mighty fine piece of work out of Los Alamos, NM by my friend, Tarik. He has been on hiatus due to his new roommate being kind of needy or whatever.

Today I officially acquired a studio separate from my living space. My new art home is in a small space above the Vine Tavern. My friend Jessica is already in residence there, and I'm excited to be her neighbor.






photo courtesy of iowacityalive.com


The previous tenant of my studio was apparently living in the space and was very unkempt. I know this because he abandoned his soiled mattress and soft porn among other things some time ago. The owner offered to cut out the first month's rent if I clean it up myself. I had some spine-shivering memories of long-past college days in which I scraped up my own putrescence in order to move on to the next hovel, so I said thanks, but no thanks until Steve persuaded me to think about the hourly wage the cleaning routine would equate.

Okay, so as soon as I have some free time I am going at that studio with rubber gloves, a gallon of bleach, and a mental command of the path to the dumpster. Alls for a free month in a space that doesn't pass city code for living... but it's perfect for artists!!

Silly as it is, I'd like to make this image an oil painting.

Bruce to the bike tire thief spectators.

Ooh, I was half a click away from deleting this here blog, but for now I've changed my mind.