‘Art on Wheels’ rolls into Gaylord

Record-Eagle/Douglas Tesner
Mike Nowak of Performance Customs, sits on a Bourget Kruzer bike manufactured by Bourget’s Bike Works in Phoenix, Ariz. Nowak will be displaying several of his bikes in the “Art on Wheels” custom motorcycle show in Gaylord. The show is a benefit event for local visual and performing art education programs.

‘Art on Wheels’ rolls into Gaylord
Motorcycle event will benefit local arts education

BY SHERI McWHIRTER

smcwhirter@record-eagle.com

GAYLORD — A very loud buzz is coming to the art community in Otsego County.

“Art on Wheels” custom motorcycle show will return for a second time to Gaylord this weekend as a benefit event for local visual and performing arts education programs.

The fundraiser is sponsored by the Gaylord Area Council for the Arts and several local businesses.

“They wanted me to think of an event that would draw a different crowd than, say, an oil-painting party,” said organizer Eric Lappan, a GACA board member.

Motorcycle art was the resulting idea.

“It’s not cross-stitching,” he said.

Custom work on a wide variety of motorcycles will be shown off, along with demonstrations of air-brushing and pin-striping the machines. Tattoo artists will be at the event that also will feature music throughout the weekend.

Jeff Nowak of Gaylord owns Performance Customs, a specialty motorcycle shop and dealership that opened last year in Traverse City. He intends to bring seven bikes to display, including some impressive models from Big Bear Chopper and Bourget’s Bike Works.

“We have anything for the V-twin enthusiast,” he said.

Nowak said some special custom jobs will be unveiled at the show.

The second annual custom motorcycle show will run from 12 to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.

Tickets are $10 at the door or $7 in advance from several businesses in Gaylord, including Northwoods Harley Davidson, Total Powersports, Lappan’s of Gaylord and the GACA Arts Center.

Lappan said proceeds from the show will be spent on visual and performing arts education programs in Otsego County. Funds will buy art supplies for area schools and go toward a donation to the local youth orchestra, among other programs.

“It’s for all types of art,” he said.

Call (989) 732-3274 for more information.

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