Really, what could be more essentially Twin Cities than a fusion of bikes, art, craft beer, and support for a worthy nonprofit?
This combination—plus thousands of people—will make the Grain Belt Studios in Northeast Minneapolis the place to be this Saturday, April 6, as
ARTCRANK throws its opening Bike Art Party.
You know ARTCRANK, don't you? It's that pretty amazing local poster cooperative that has gone national, then global, in just six years. This year it's hosting shows of bicycle-themed poster art in eleven US cities plus London, Manchester, and Paris.
The CRANKers gather posters by local artists—the work of 45 of them will be on display this Saturday—and then invite the public in for free. Signed and numbered limited-edition copies of all the posters will be available for 40 bucks a pop, which is a steal. Four thousand Twin Citians showed up for the bash last year, and ARTCRANK is predicting an even bigger mob scene this time around.
The Beer Factor
And if you're not into bike art, you like beer, don't you? As in fine craft beer from Widmer Brothers Brewing, served in pint glasses emblazoned with the big ARTCRANK "A" logo. All sales will benefit one of the worthiest ventures in all of Twin Cities nonprofithood,
Springboard for the Arts' program providing medical care to uninsured artists in our community.
It's a way of thanking the creative people who help make this the rich, beautiful, vibrant community we like to boast about in our civic propaganda—but who often struggle for the basic elements of security many of us get to take for granted.
And yeah, I know--the beer is from Portland. But that adds a bike-town-friendly-rivalry factor.
The food, on the other hand, will be unimpeachably local—some of our premier food trucks will be parked at the event: Chef Shack, Gastrotruck, Potter's Pasties, Fork in the Road, Sassy Spoon—with gluten free eats--and Natedogs.
So get on, or in, your human-powered vehicle and be there!
Saturday, April 6
5:00pm – 11:00pm
Grain Belt Studios
79 Thirteenth Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413