Worcester, MA
United States
In the January-February 2020 Worcester Center for Crafts exhibition “Crafting a New Home: Refugee Artisans of Worcester,” we hung this full-size, ready-to-use bamboo bicycle from the ceiling. It had a stunning presence in that show. It was created by the inspiration of the nonprofit Bamboo Bicycles- Beijing, led by David Yang. The bike was put together in a workshop. That was quite a scene: several of the RAW artisans were using power tools and electric drills for the first time. They were out of their comfort zones but excelled. Working in teams with WSU students and alums and nonprofit partners, they put the bicycle together with glue.
Who made this bike? Bamboo artisans from the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese and Burmese communities of Worcester, working in collaboration with the organization called Bamboo Bicycle- Beijing, with Worcester State U students and alumni, and with the nonprofit Worcester Earn-a-Bike, coordinated by Susan Lucas.
