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In the summer of 1998 I responded to encouragment from my high school friend
Thomas Krens, Director of the Guggenheim Foundation, and went to see the Art
of the Motorcycle Show that was being enthusiastically received by the
public in New York City.

The show was spectacular, displaying bikes spanning the entire evolution of
the motorcycle during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the upward
spiraling rotunda of the Fifth Avenue museum. The surrounding history of
each machine was reflected with care and utmost attention to detail as one
ascended to the glowing skylight at the top of the journey. (continued below)

To see a larger version of the image, click on the thumbnail version.

Motorcycle Pedestal
Rotunda
Easy Rider
Classic BMW
Silver Bike
Tom Krens
Guggenheim Director

Motorcyles and cars are powerful manifestations of our collective desire for
travel, speed, and adventure, largely replacing our relationship with the
horse and other wild animals that cooperate and synergize with humans. They
display obvious power and sex appeal. In the future they might return to
"eating" biofuels, or be powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

I was allowed to take photographs with my tripod, which made the photos you
see here possible. They are a very few of the many I made that hot August
day in 1998. Many thanks to Thomas Krens for this dazzling experience.

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All images ©Scott Hess