Xanadu meets Breaking Away: Gaytron's Exploding Neon Bike Jump

Galen McCarty Turner (who you may remember from this whimsical story from our archives) is back at the edge of a death-defying three-inch bike jump - or his own sanity you might say.

This Saturday, the Tacoma artist will ride his bike through an illuminated wall of neon, which he designed and built in his own back yard. The performance will help raise funds for 2^nd Cycle, Tacoma’s Independent Bike Co-op located in Hilltop.

Enjoy this video from last year's jump, in which Galen nails the jump, and momentarily catches on fire.

And read more details and background after the jump.

And, kids: don't. Just don't.

From "Gayton's" media relations department:

On August 21 the second Bike Jump will take place in the alley of 6^th and “I” Street in Tacoma at 8:00pm. The Bike Jump is 3 inches of sheer terror, a life-defying implosion of rare stimulated gasses combustigated from 90,000 volts of raditude. In layman’s terms, Gaytron will be jumping a bike through a wall of dirty, handmade, panty-melting neon tubing set up in the alley. The performance has been heavily promoted as a public event and is a fundraiser for 2^nd Cycle, Tacoma’s Independent Bike Co-op located in Hilltop. Bike Jump T-shirts and limited edition event prints (printed on Brown and Haley Cherry Mountain Bar packaging sheets) will be available for purchase during the gathering. Merriment will commence after the neon is swept from the street.

Galen McCarty Turner was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. His art practice is an unpredictable and sprawling multi-media affair that often blurs the lines between sculpture, performance, interactive social experiment, and new media. Some of Turner’s past projects have included neon constructions, helmets, robots, chastity belts, furniture, invitational videography, masks and ID cards. Many of his projects originate from his personal hoard. In January of 2009, City Arts magazine ran a four-page spread documenting Galen’s extensive collection of unlikely objects. Other projects stem from his interest in working with neon and electricity. Galen’s aim is one of fun, whimsy, showmanship, male-bravado, community gathering, hard work and exploration.

Galen McCarty Turner graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2002. His post-graduate work included attendance, teaching, and exhibition at the Pilchuck Glass School. He is currently employed by the Evergreen State College as a teacher in the neon program. Past exhibitions have taken place at Fulcrum Gallery, The Brick House Gallery, Mineral, The Tollbooth Gallery and the Alley of 6^th and I street.