Downtown Ann Arbor goes artistic with new bike racks

Scratching your head over the “Art” hoops appearing throughout downtown Ann Arbor. No idea what they are, where they’re coming from or who’s paying for them.Here’s the short of it. They’re bike racks coming from the Ann Arbor Art Center and paid for by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. They are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Ann Arbor Art Center and the 50th birthday of the Ann Arbor Art Fair this year.The “Art” in the middle of them is taken from the Ann Arbor Art Center’s logo. They are also sponsored by local businesses and people who have a plaque placed at the base of the art hoops. “One couple bought one to celebrate where they first met,” says Marsha Chamberlin, president and CEO of the Ann Arbor Art CenterThe art hoops cost $350 a piece. Regular bike-rack hoops cost $300 a piece.Source: Marsha Chamberlin, president and CEO of the Ann Arbor Art CenterWriter: Jon Zemke