We still needed to hang artwork, spin a bike, set up the projector, tap the kegs☺ Everyone dutifully cleaned up their offices all in an effort to yet again transform Vaya into a gallery. The last of the artwork was hung a little before 5:00 and we were once again ready to swing open our doors and invite others to get to know us and enjoy the work of some talented local artists.

As for keeping the theme of the bicycle, Vaya’s contribution to the show titled Bridge 52/39 was an internal collaboration and extraordinary retouching by our own Chris Andrews. The Fremont Bridge meets a bicycle chain ring.

What a perfectly Portland idea, being both super bike friendly and the home of Beervana… the Bike Bar arrived… a bicycle that is equipped to handle and dispense beer from a keg! It truly is a match made in heaven. Speaking of which, someone was smiling down upon us because it turned out to be a perfect late summer/early fall day with sun and temps in the low 80’s.

What turned out to be the life of the party arrived shortly there after. The Brewcycle… a bar on wheels, with 12 bicycle seats welded to an old trailer frame and underneath rest 10 sets of bike pedals which power the bar.

Initially there was much chatter, gawking, and walking around the Brewcycle, until 2 brave Vayans, Eric and John, jumped aboard! Others then grabbed a seat and checked it out. People were having so much fun just sitting there, but the real fun started when the bar began to move. At every turn came the ring of a cowbell… and anyone in the know knows you can’t have enough cowbell! Biking and imbibing, can’t go wrong there. As the party goers became more adventurous, a 3rd voyage was set to pedal off only to be pulled over by one of Portland’s finest to harass, serve and protect. Flashing lights, cameras and action! Suddenly, it was the talk of the party with much speculation, and an unforeseen delay of the party’s festivities.

Eventually,  The Officer let our guests go and they took off back down the street for one last hoorah. With enough excitement for one night we limited the rest of the joy rides to Vaya’s parking lot. Spirits were not dampened as several more “slightly modified” tours lapped the parking lot until the Brewcycle had to go home.
Shorty after it became evident a police presence was unnecessary, everyone gathered outside to see who won the Trek bike courtesy of the Woodstock Bike Gallery. Congrats Jackie! What a successful party! Thank you to ALL of our participants including: BTA: bikegallery.com, The Metrofiets Beer Bike: metrofiets.com, Brewcycle: brewcycleportland.com, Moreland Frameworks: morelandframeworks.com, On the Go Productions: onthegoproductions.com and all of the artists who submitted their work!
If you missed this year’s event, you might consider joining us at the end of summer next year. We’ve already started planning Vaya’s 4th Annual Art Show.
… Think “Wide Opens Spaces”.

Stay tuned for updates to next years adventures. We have already started planning and scheming on how to top La Bicicletta.