Client: Walker Nature Center

Overview

The artist-designed bicycle racks were conceived by Dana Ann Scheurer for the Walker Nature Center in Reston, VA. The artist responded to a call for designs for site-specific bike racks. Featuring the Pileated Woodpecker, Reston’s Official Bird, in its natural woodland habitat, the three wheels of the bike racks depict the bird in flight, perched on a tree, and its signature rectangular nesting hole. Dana Ann Scheurer’s inspiration for the design came from her earlier painting and limited edition prints of this local feathered friend. “Pileated Woodpecker” comprises three individual pieces made of durable powder-coated on mild steel. The bike racks were fabricated by DERO.

Goals

The goal of this project was to introduce artist-designed site-specific bicycle racks in Reston, VA, and encourage the establishment of an ongoing program to commission this type of bike racks as functional public art. The Walker Nature Center, located near trails, joined this initiative to encourage use of bicycles to visit their venue.

Process

Public Art Reston launched and managed this initiative. Projects partners include Reston Association, Reston Community Center, Walker Nature Center, and Reston Bicycle Club. The bike racks were sponsored by Friends of Reston, Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Reston Bicycle Club, and Reston Association.