MIAG Artist Series
For Cathe Grosshandler, an avid mountain biker, it was important to be able to take care of herself on the trail. Chain issues, cables, brakes or flat tires. Nuts and bolts that shake loose. Anything could happen. If her bike broke down, she wanted to be able to fix it. “There’s a certain freedom in that”, Cathe said. “A freedom that comes with knowing you’re able to deal with practically anything”.
A self-described mechanic ‘wanna-be’ at heart, Cathe began to teach herself. She learned how things worked by wrenching around on bikes inside her workshop. She dismantled parts and put them back together. At some point, a little more than four years ago, art began to emerge from that pile of bicycle parts. Although Cathe didn’t invent the term “up-cycling”, it certainly fits!
An Inspired Hobby
Turning bike parts into cheerful garden art was not instantaneous, however. But rather a process which began simply as ideas and execution. For quite awhile, Cathe quietly played around with chains and sprockets to figure out how to put them together in a practical way. Only this time, it was for creativity’s sake, not something that was going out on the trail.
Cathe (known as Cathe “G” to friends) says she’s never done any kind of of art before and admits to harboring some insecurities. When she first started approaching a bike shop for parts, she was handed a box of pretty yucky stuff, caked with mud and grease. The guy would say: “What d’ya need all this for, anyway?”
But her newly discovered talents were boosted by friends and co-workers who loved her artwork. It was their encouragement that compelled her to keep going; to keep on trying and experimenting.
Eventually, she began making art for awards in local Bicycle Club racing events, something she continues to do. It was a huge hit. Pretty soon, word started getting out. Friends began asking her to make custom pieces and charities requested donations for fundraisers.
of an early piece.
One time, she donated two of her larger, more elaborate pieces to the Salvation Army for a up-cycled art auction called “Transformed Treasures”. To her surprise, Cathe later learned that her art commanded some of the highest bids of the evening; even culminating in bidding wars!
Just making flowers?
It’s funny looking back, but in the beginning Cathe worried that making flowers all the time would get boring. She didn’t count on all the new ideas that would flow like turning on a faucet. And it just keeps snowballing. She now sees so many more possibilities, there just isn’t time to investigate them all.
In addition to her flower art, Cathe makes coat racks and key holders. Then there’s a few hanging pendant lamps, and a toilet paper dispenser made with a bike pedal. When it comes to up-cycled furniture, Cathe discovered that brake adapters make really cool drawer pulls. Who knew?
But the flowers are her forte. In the beginning Cathe signed her art work by handwriting her name with a wood burner. The tool was cumbersome to use and she worried that it didn’t look professional. Lately, she’s switched to a wood burning signature stamp, so those early bicycle art pieces are truly special.
She keeps a small scrap pile of old barn wood next to the workshop for future projects. Those with interesting grains or patterns add to the artistry of a finished piece.
Are there’s certain ones she’s particularly fond? The answer is “oh, yes!” Like many artists, Cathe has her favorites she’s not inclined to part with. Her most recent work depicts a tree under a blazing sun.
Doing what she loves
The delimma artists have always faced is this: Doing what you love, verses doing what is popular. Cathe makes it clear she’s very much her own artist. By that, she means that she makes what she likes and hopes others will see in it what she does. “I’d rather create something that comes out of my own imagination”, she said. “I don’t want to do something just because its the popular thing…it has to be fun!” That’s the satisfying pleasure artists experience when creating.
Today, Cathe still gets her parts from bike shops who are eager to free up precious space. Only, they insist she take the whole box, they won’t let her pick & choose. Friends still call her up and let her know they’re saving stuff for her.
Not one for watching TV, she found art to be a sort of therapy. There’s so many things she wants to do but but it’s impossible to find the time. No kidding. In addition to mountain biking, she enjoys nordic skiing, gardening and her grand kids when not working as a construction project manager. She hints that maybe–just maybe–when she retires, she can devote more time to her art. We hope she does!
Where to find the art
Cathe’s bicycle art is on display and for sale at The Trek Store in Anchorage, Alaska.
ARTIST FOCUS: Do you know someone who creates amazing garden art, sculpture or outdoor furniture? Make it a Garden exists to promote artists and help readers of this blog connect with craftsmen who produce the unique and specialized works they’ve been seeking for their yard or garden. If you, or someone you know would like to be considered for this blog, please get in touch by using the contact form above.
More from our ARTIST SPOTLIGHT SERIES:
“The Fairy Artist Who’ll Make You Believe!” (UK’s Robin Wight)
“Doing the Dishes” The Best Dish Flower Designs from Make it a Garden
Awesome bio on Cathe and her bicycle-recycle art! ” ) It’s always inspiring to see folks make creative items out of materials that would normally be tossed when they reach the end of their originally designed life. I saw a video about a gal who takes old auto and motorcycle tires and makes TIki statues with them.
Thank you for reading this article! And yes, Cathe’s work is fantastic. She was wonderful to meet and talk with. I hope to do more such artist interviews in the near future. If you know someone who creates garden art or outdoor furniture etc., please have them get in touch with me.