Wow, what an interesting discussion this has turned into! As a professor of art history and studio art, I can certainly appreciate the several references to Dewey as well as the apparent fact that a good number of folks from the visual art world have an affinity for C&V bicycles. My own thinking somewhat parallels that of Dissanayake's view that current thinking in the visual arts is concerned with giving art back to life rather than relegating it - as we have for the past few centuries - to the remote world of the museum or concert hall, experienced only by the elite. What is intriguing - to me, at least - about the bicycle "as art" is in the way that we, as humans behave, deliberately setting out, in the words of Dissanayake, "to make things special" or extra-ordinary. We could certainly create a perfectly functional two-wheeled transportation device, completely devoid of lugs or chrome or paint or any of the other things that make a bicycle "special." (For that matter, we certainly have done so!) But it brings joy to many of us as enthusiasts and riders to be in contact with those that are made special. Call it art. Call it craft. Call it anything you like. Overwhelmingly, that which we make special is considered to have some degree of importance to us, both collectively and as individuals. To me, that is the interesting part of this question: the shared common experience and bond of the bicycle, the appeal of a well designed component or an excellent fender line, the aesthetic experience of discovery upon a ride. Yes, in my mind there is very definitely something that can be called "the art of the bicycle" but it may be something much different for each of us. I've never had much use for distinguishing between "high" art and anything else, frankly - and this might be part of the appeal of vintage cycling to me in all honesty: as I think I've said before, it seems like a wonderful bridge of form and function.

I don't know what this exhibition will be - or even if it will become a reality. What I'm certain of, though, is that there is more than enough fodder to generate ten completely different shows of the same title, and all with completely different focus in each iteration - and the art critics be hanged!