50 works of original art by legendary biker artist David Mann to be exhibited at The Journey Musuem during the 2004 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

This is a once in a lifetime chance for fans of David Mann to see his original paintings up close and personal. The roots of custom motorcycling inspired this years exhibition at The Journey Museum. On display with the art will be more than a dozen Bobber" style bikes, reflecting a style of motorcycle from the 1950s and early 1960s.

(PRWEB) July 30, 2004 -- David Mann first became known through his work for Easyriders Magazine, in which his art was reproduced as the magazines center spread starting in 1973 and continuing until 2003. Each month, readers would look forward to another witty interpretation of the motorcycle lifestyle through Davids vision. These scenes came from the artists personal experience, myth and imagination, and always depicted something motorcyclists could relate to. The illustrations were commonly torn from magazines and tacked to the walls of shops, garages, living rooms and clubhouses across America.

To this day, most motorcyclists that have been riding for twenty years or more years remember specific images that they can still describe in full detail. Countless motorcyclists were touched in some way by his art and still consider themselves his loyal fans.

Segal Fine Art, a publisher of limited edition artwork that has recently added David Mann to their roster of painters they represent, has heard from many of his fans who have decided to take a special trip to Sturgis this year for the sole purpose of seeing these paintings. Though David himself is very unlikely to attend the event, due to his failing health, representatives from Segal Fine Art will be on hand to receive and forward messages or communications from his fans.

To accompany David Manns paintings, photographer/exhibition producer Michael Lichter, has collected a group of old school motorcycles that will be showcased in the gallery. Bobs Back," as the group of bikes is called, reflects the recent resurgence of the Bobber" style motorcycle that became popular in the 1950s and was a prevalent style until the choppers of the 1960s took over.

The motorcycles that make up Bobs Back" will include traditional Bobbers" as they may have appeared in 1958 like Cycle Worlds Editor, David Edwards, 1940 Indian Scout Bobber that toured for four years with the Guggenheim Museums Art of the Motorcycle" as well as modern interpretations by well-known builders like Billy Lane, Chica, Hank Young and Brian Klock. Other motorcycles include bronze sculptor Jeff Deckers 1941 Crocker from Utah and a bobber from Puerto Rico by builder Jose de Miguel.

This exhibition has been made possible by the generous support of Joe Teresi who has loaned all of the original David Mann paintings to the museum and Segal Fine Art, David Mann's publisher who had the all of orignals specially framed for the event. Additional support has come from Metzeler Motorcycle Tires for sponsoring the reception and the motorcycle builders and owners who graciously loaned their motorcycles to the museum.

In conjunction with the reception, Metzeler Tires has organized its second annual Custom Motorcycle Competition on Tuesday August 10th in the parking lot in front of the museum. Custom motorcycles that use any of Metzeler's tires, from standard sizes right to their super wide 280, will be checking in until 11am and remain on display until 6pm while judging takes place. The grand prizewinner, who will be announced during the reception, will win a trip to Italy with their motorcycle to attend the EICMA show, the largest motorcycle show in the world.

Bobs Back with David Mann" will open to the public on Saturday August 7th and will remain open through Saturday, August 14. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with extended hours until 6 p.m. during bike week, August 2–9. A reception with live music and refreshments at which many of the motorcycle builders will be present will be held, August 10 from 4:30 – 8:30pm. The reception is open to the public. The museum is located at 222 New York Street, two blocks east of the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn and the Civic Center where Harley-Davidson is headquartered. The normal $6.00 admission has been reduced to $5 (kids 10 and under are free) to welcome motorcyclists during bike week, August 7–14. This also includes admission to the four major prehistoric and historic collections, the Duhamel collection of traditional Sioux artifacts and the museum theatre.

For more information, contact:
The Journey Museum
http://www.journeymuseum.org/english/bikes.html
(605)394-6923

Segal Fine Art
http://www.motorcycleart.com
(800)999-1297

Michael Lichter
http://www.lichterphoto.com/index.html

Safe travels and we hope to see you all there!

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