Motorcycle Art, by Ken "Sparky" MacKenzie

Somewhere on the PCH;

High on the "to do" list, at least on mine was to ride the Pacific Coast Highway. I’ve dreamed of riding this endless twisting piece of blacktop for years. I think we’re near Carmel CA now... not that it matters, this is a great place to pull over for a few minutes. The tires moving from a hard to soft sand surface create a different sensation for rider and passenger. Once dismounted we face the Pacific and take the salt air full on. Even under this grey sky with clouds scudding by overhead; the waves crashing into the rocks below have enough light to reveal a depth and variety of colour I had not taken the time to notice before. Or maybe its just that we have to be in a certain physical setting and state of mind to observe that which has always been there. The rocks and sand were creating the same effect as their subtle shades of mauve and ochre were revealed to me. The Torrey pine trees act as silent sentinels pointing the direction the wind must follow.

Calle San Miguel;

Set in Torremolinos on Spain’s Costs Del Sol this pedestrian only street is rich in both architecture and artistic detail. From the ornate street lamps to the highly detailed ceramic number plates marking each house the artisans involvement is visible everywhere. Our curiosity takes us around the corner of the church only to be greeted with a beautifully tiled street! The white tiles appearing like a canvas broken by the red patterned bricks set down like permanent tire tracks. "Bending" the perspective for me at least increases the interest in the scene. And the scooters, usually darting about like frenzied birds, are here at rest. Finally.

Castellon;

The 25th running of the Paris Dakar Rally. We are finally here seeing it live! The excitement has been building all day. The television crews are set up in the street ready to interview the top riders including last year’s winner Meoni from Italy. At last they are all here; the bikes, cars and trucks. There’s Shawn Price # 041 the ex-pat Canadian on stage being interviewed. The riders in their lightweight armour appearing like gladiators on steel steeds, forsaking heraldic crests for brightly colored corporate logos. Motors are revving as an incentive to the reporters to end the interview and let the adventure continue. Tonight they will bivouac here and cross the Mediterranean to Tunisia tomorrow. Sadly we turn to leave; in my private thoughts I am wishing I were able to join them.

La Rabita;

We all know how easy it is to stay on the main road to "make time" but that’s not where the areas of interest are. Sometimes we have to turn off away from Le Carreterra for no reason. If we did not travel then we would miss those everyday scenes of people going about their business and dogs barking. If you took away the SUV’s present everywhere you would be hard pressed to pick the decade you were in.

Tangiers;

Only a few short hours by ferry from Spain but it might as well be light years away; Morocco is everything you could imagine; A timeless street scene of a snake charmer is about to get underway. We were told the snakes lose their venom after being in captivity; it’s a story the truth of which I’m not about to test. The fortress walls remind me of the many invaders the cities residents would have seen over the centuries. The modern SUV’s in bright colours make a stark backdrop behind the men, most of whom are wearing the traditional jallaba.

Then and Now;

I have left the hotel in Torremolinos for an early morning walk. Turning right at the Burger King I find a privately owned café and sit down to enjoy what has become a daily pleasure; coffee con leche. Half steamed milk and half coffee. It's delicious. Some time later I am retracing my steps, and as I round the corner these two magnificent buildings are directly in front of me. Side by side yet. The contrast is remarkable! The stainless steel and poured concrete of the apartment block appear as a poor stepchild beside the marble and stained glass of it's neighbour. The contrasting details are everywhere; lines and shapes, materials and colors. I attempt to discover from a passerby in my inadequate Spanish the origins of the older building, but it is not to be. Perfect. It will be up to the viewer to create a history.

Las Palomas;

We have just arrived at "The Doves" hotel here in Spain on the Costa del Sol. I am taking in the view from the balcony. Trying to absorb and retain everything. The sun, the sky that appears to have colors unique to this part of the world only. Christmas decorations are up in the form of shooting stars contained in a wire design and filled with red and green lights. The sidewalk is made up of white tiles with a number of black tiles overlaid in a variety of intricate designs. Having recently left a cold climate the scents and colours and warmth are especially welcome. The omnipresent scooters are everywhere. I pass the time studying the letters on the plates of all the vehicles trying to match the letter to a nearby city. Tomorrow begins the adventure!

Love the artwork? Want one?

Price is only CDN$40 each (approximately US$30.30 as of Oct 10 2003) plus shipping and handling. To purchase any of these prints, contact the artist via e-mail: spar...@sprint.ca