By Bridgette Meinhold, Source: Inhabitat

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As pro cyclists race around the great state of Utah in the Tour of Utah, a group of artists have donated their works in an effort to raise money for the World Bicycle Relief, which supplies bikes to people in Africa. The SRAM pART Project in Park City, UT features over 20 imaginative sculptures built with repurposed and scrap bike parts. Sponsored by SRAM bike components and on display at the Kimball Art Center, the recycled bike sculptures are currently up for sale through an online eBay auction with proceeds going to the World Bicycle Relief, the Kimball Art Center and a small portion to the artist.
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The SRAM pART Project in Park City, UT is the fourth incarnation of the bike part sculpture charity auction, which was also held in Chicago, New York City, and Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. “Park City is becoming the next cycling Mecca, and is a community that is philanthropic, as well as focused on the arts,” said David Zimberoff, SRAM’s Global Marketing Director. “With all of these qualities we are confident the Park City pART Project will be a huge success.”
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Over the last year, Zimberoff has collected and saved unusable and unsalable bike parts from SRAM’s various factories. Rather than throw the parts out, they are saved for the express purpose of this art event. SRAM then sent 100 bike components to 25 artists from around the country to incorporate into a sculpture. Rules for their sculptures included size limit and the use of 25 SRAM parts, but the subject matter and other materials incorporated were totally up to the artist. Recycled and repurposed materials are seen throughout the 23 sculptures that are now on display at the Kimball Art Center.
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The recycled bike part sculptures are up for auction through eBay. The proceeds of the auction will mostly benefit the World Bicycle Relief, whose goal is to provide access to independence and livelihood through the power of bicycles. The non-profit organization works to design, source and manufacture bicycles that can withstand African terrain and conditions. A portion of the proceeds also go towards the Kimball Art Center in Park City, UT and a small portion goes towards the individual artist.
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