"Steel Ponies"

Art Attack, 2005, by Russ Hess of Cowboy Customs. Detail

I opened with a detail of the motorcycle which is the finale of 
"Steel Ponies," an exhibition exploring the art and history that have 

sprung out of the subcultures associated with the motorcycle.
Art Attack was designed and constructed in 2005
by Russ Hess of Cowboy Customs. The motorcycle took 
Hess 800 hours to build and consists of a tooled leather seat, 
saguaro wheel spokes, forty-seven pieces of engraved 
silver overlay, and 115 gold flowers and rubies.
  

Art Attack, 2005, by Russ Hess

The show opens with a shining red and black 1948 

Indian Chief Roadmaster, with its trademark large-skirted fenders. 

The Roadmaster debuted in 1922 and was Harley-Davidson's 

main competitor in the V-twin heavyweight class.

1948 Indian Chief  Roadmaster

Visitors are then shown various examples of early motorcycles, 
beginning with a 1902 Indian Camelback, 
which is virtually a bicycle with a motor attached. 

1902 Indian Camelback, on loan from
the Smithsonian Institution, Museum of American History,
Kenneth E. Behring Center

The 1998 Harley-Davidson Road King shown below is owned by

United States Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who in 1992

became the first Native American to serve Congress

in more than 60 years.

1998 Harley-Davidson Road King
on loan from Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

Detail of the Road King showing
the eagle's talon kick stand.

To people "of a certain age," there are three movies which

described the feelings of alienation from society felt by many

young people, the motorcyclists depicted in The Wild Ones, 

the 1953 movie starring Marlon Brando; The Wild Angels,

which came out in 1966 with Peter Fonda; and the

iconic 1966 film Easy Rider, starring Peter Fonda 

and Dennis Hopper as Captain America and Wyatt.

  

Detail of Captain America Bike from Easy Rider

While I don't remember the first two movies, I do recall

seeing Easy Rider and remember the dread and

revulsion I felt over the movie's conclusion. I haven't

been able to watch it since. Four used cop bikes,

Harley-Davidson Hydraglides were converted by

builders Cliff Vaughns and Ben Hardy to create the 

motorcycles for the main characters, played by

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Of the four,

three were stolen towards the end of production 

on the movie. The fourth, the Captain America destroyed

at the end of the movie, was rebuilt from the remaining 

parts by Dan Haggerty.

Foreground, Captain America bike from Easy Rider,
1969; background left, 1953 Chino Bobber from The Wild One; 
and right, Dragon Bike
from 1966 movie The Wild Angels.