THE CITY
RELIQUARY PRESENTS:
THE DICK
POWER STORY
A Dark
Day in Sunnyside
a bike obsessed life of damage and redemption
Exhibit at the City Reliquary through August
Brooklyn, June 11, 2014: The
fixie riding hipster is
just as common today in the
urban landscape of New York as an
awkwardly helmeted tourist
browsing the rows of CitiBikes. But long before every
hip Brooklyn neighborhood had at least one or two bike boutiques, Dick Power was
crafting fine artisan bicycle frames in Sunnyside, Queens. A Dark
Day in Sunnyside is the newest exhibit by The City Reliquary Museum, and it examines the life and times of
this man, whose obsession with racing bicycles led to consequences inspiring,
but also dark.
Unlike the worthy but
workmanlike frame building of the 20s, Power used expensive silver to braze the tubes of the frames
to lugs, knowing
that the lower
melting point of
the precious metal would leave the tubing unbowed
and the bike
straighter. This sort of care became the hallmark of the American frame builder,
different from the “good enough” work of old-world craftsmen.
Power was also a patriot, intent on
being an All-American even though he had to navigate a world that ultimately crushed
his family and took away a son, leaving
him, and ultimately us, only the bicycles that he built as a lasting monument. A Dark Day in Sunnyside, is a tribute to this pivotal bicycle artisan,
and displays many of those bicycles which stand as a monument to Power's life,
story, and place in the annals of bicycle history.
Catch a
glimpse, reflected in the
silver braze, of
a most remarkable
life. The bikes on display come from the collection of
Edward H Albert,
a former road
racer, avid vintage
bicycle collector, and dedicated
chronicler of bicycle history.
The City Reliquary
Museum is thrilled
to present these
priceless examples of
early American bicycle artistry to the public in this brand new Exhibit.
Located at 370 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, The City
Reliquary Museum & Civic Organization provides a wide array of services to
the community. As a certified 501(c)3 not-for-profit
organization, we are committed to serving the people of New York City –
natives, newcomers, and passersby. Originally established as a window-front
display only museum in 2002 at the corner of Grand and Havemeyer
Sts, it moved into its present location in 2006 and
became dedicated to planning and hosting public events, which provide neighbors
and visitors with a place to meet, exchange ideas, and celebrate the diversity
of our community.
The City Reliquary’s hours are: Thursday through Sunday: 12pm – 6pm.
Admission to the museum is $5-10 suggested donation. For general
information, please visit the Museum’s website
Contact:
The City Reliquary
370 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY, 11211
Phone: (718)-RU-CIVIC
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