Author Topic: Art of the Motorcycle Exhibit in Memphis (Read 11709 times)

PeteSC · « **on:** September 18, 2005, 10:01:54 PM »

Through Oct 30.

'The Art of the Motorcycle'

When: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Oct. 30 (last entry at 7 p.m.).

Where: Pyramid Arena, Memphis. Parking is in the lot north of the pyramid; enter from Front Street at North Parkway. $5 cars, $3 motorcycles.

Tickets: $15 adults; $13 for 60 and older; $5 ages 5-12. Available at the door and online at http://www.museumtix.com. Permission to shoot photos is $2.

Sven · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2005, 10:40:34 PM »

I am a volunteer docent at this exhibit, working most Sunday mornings. Drop me a note if you have any questions about the exhibit, need information about lodging, other tourist info. For more on the exhibit, check out http://wonders.org

cb400bill · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2005, 12:06:14 AM »

Sven,

I have heard various reports about the attendance for this in Memphis. How is this exhibit being attended?

Sven · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2005, 08:54:07 AM »

It has been the lowest attended exhibit we have ever done! I think they are expecting it to track out to 40,000 people.

As popular as motorcycling is, I really expected this exhibit to beat all those exhibits of dead Eurpoeans...but I was wrong. I feel it was poorly publicized (which is not to say advertised), with almost no coverage in the MC mags.

While the patrons have been some of the most interesting and engaging we've ever had, and they come from all over the country, the locals seem to be staying away in droves.

I also believe that while many people, and school groups, will go see an exhibit about Spanish royalty because they think it's educational or "good for them", they don't feel the same way about motorcycles.

It's disappointing, and it seems to be derailing the entire concept of the Wonders series, but it has been a treat to work it (I have worked all the exhibits for the past 10 years) and again, the patrons have been a total blast.

PeteSC · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2005, 09:00:59 AM »

Yeah, Sven, but this exhibit has been all over the US, so far, and a lot of real 'die hard' riders traveled to see it, already.

Maybe you can call it a 'bike show' and more people will show up?

I doubt many of the current 'new' riders would appreciate, or recognize many of the bikes in the exhibit.
"Where's the OCC and WCC stuff?"

http://www.wonders.org/current/index.php

I did just buy one of the CDs from the gift shop. I'm thinking motorcycle songs with a 'Memphis' sound ought to make good drinkin' music when the bike is parked......
http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Music-CD-The-Art-of-The-Motorcycle_W0QQitemZ4730948710QQcategoryZ307QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Sven · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2005, 10:07:14 AM »

The show has been in NY, Chicago, and Las Vegas, and Bilbao Spain, and the last time it showed was 5 years ago. Also, it is a somewhat different mix of bikes and there are many that are in the show for the 1st time. It is going to Orlando next, so I'll be curious to see how it does there, as a winter show.

I didn't see the point of the CD, since the performers all seemed to try to sound like the original artists. They could have just stocked up on the HD series of CDs.

Back to my point about publicity: You know those calendars of events that are in the back of many magazines...this show was never listed in any of them that I saw. Most people who came from elsewhere to see it found out about it through word of mouth. And again, Wonders relies on people from the region to attend these exhibits. Nobody I know when to TAOTM in any of the previous cities, so even if all the MC riders in a 200-mile radius showed up, we would have done better.

PeteSC · « **Reply #6 on:** September 20, 2005, 10:16:49 AM »

You've got over a month left....as it cools off, it would be a nice weekend ride from within the region.
I actually know some people from GA who went to Chicago to see it.
I thought it had been running 'somewhere' continuously.......

B12Teuton · « **Reply #7 on:** September 20, 2005, 01:59:17 PM »

Saw it at the MOMA in NY a few years ago. Good stuff!

Sven · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2005, 02:35:00 PM »

The people at the Guggenheim would really like you know that you saw it there, rather than MOMA!

Wooddog · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2005, 11:35:16 PM »

I dont know why more people dont go see it, it was excellent. Best show(exhibit) I have ever been to. I have lots of friends that are motorcyle nuts and I tried, and tried to talk up a ride over to the show (and I am only 60miles away) and could not get any one to go, so finally I told the wife and kid we were going to make it a family trip and they were not all that excited about it at first but after they went they were very impressed! I could have spent all day in there but the family was ready to go after a couple of hours. I think most people just didnt really know how good or what to expect, so they did not go.

Sven · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2005, 01:30:32 AM »

THanks for the testimonial...it has another month, so please talk it up among your friends!

We have a volunteer on my shift that lives in Jonesboogie, and she comes over every Sunday, so maybe you can use her story to shame your friends into coming!

PS: Last Sunday, I was riding through your town on my way to Mountain View. Crossing the I-40 bridge during Hurricane Rita was VERY scary...35 MPH gusts coming from both directions! (Landry, that would be the "new bridge"!)

PeteSC · « **Reply #11 on:** October 01, 2005, 11:27:10 PM »

You're right Sven. The CD is pretty bland.
2/3's of the tracks sound liked they hired 'cover' bands from the lounges at Tunica, a couple sound 'OK'.