Restored classics go on show
Visual art takes many forms, as shown by the current display in the Sarjeant on the Quay.
Three vintage motorcycles, fully restored by a local enthusiast, perch on their centre stands in the main gallery, surrounded by more traditional forms of art.
The display coincides with the annual Boxing Day Cemetery Circuit races, and this is the fourth year the Sarjeant has admitted motorcycles into its hallowed halls.
“Originally it was an idea to bring people into the gallery who wouldn’t ordinarily come,” says Teresa Toy, gallery operations manager.
The gallery first approached local man Steve Roberts and paraded some examples of his motorcycles. He supplied the bikes for the first two years. Last year some local enthusiasts displayed their machines, including the much loved classic sidecar outfit raced by Bruce Williamson and Julie Loveridge until their retirement from the track in 2016.
Lined up this year, gleaming, are a 1960 AJS 600cc competition scrambler, a 1956 AJS 7R and a 1955 Triumph Tiger T110. The latter, a 650cc twin, first appeared on British streets in 1954.
“Do you notice the odometer on the Triumph is set at zero?” says Teresa. “It’s a complete rebuild.”
The Triumph is canary yellow, not a factory colour, I suspect. There is neither petrol nor oil in any of the bikes — so no fear of the traditional British crankcase oil leak on the pristine gallery floor.
The scrambler looks nothing like a modern sport machine.
“It’s such a great example of what a dirt bike was,” says Teresa. “This is a beach scrambler.”
The 7R was built to race and was a favourite of teams and privateers for years, since it made its first appearance in 1948.
The tyres on all the bikes are brand new, unscuffed, still with nubbins attached.
Teresa is attracted to the Triumph and its looks. “There is something so aesthetically pleasing about the design. The lines, the shape, the colour, the font they used [on the dials], look at it from all different design aspects. “They look fantastic in an art gallery. It is art.”
The bike exhibition is on until January 7 with the Sarjeant open daily 10.30am to 4.30pm except Christmas Day.