I think there is a time and place for an event of this sort and that would be exactly how and where it's been...That perserves the realness and uniqueness of the Art Hop experience.

Try not to tell anyone, it's a secret.

Ya, see, that's what ArtHop is about, -that's what BikeHop is about, ---that's what Art itself is about...

It's one's one experiences, conveyed on some sort of media, and a bunch of people who really don't have anything to do with each other, taking the risk of openning themselves to that work, each other, and walking away from it changed...
It' simply communication with anything other than onesself, (and we crave it as beings.)

Fresno indulges itself into thinking that it has it's neighborhoods and territories.
It intoxicates and placates itself with some thin paper-doll existance that there is any difference between here and Bakersfield, Chowchilla or Coalingua, or Clovis,
---or anywhere else on the planet, -for that matter.

The truth of the matter is:
Each person in Fresno is their own little city,
(and we all have the option of thinking we're better than the next person,
-and that there IS some difference or higher quality from one soul to the next.

-Of course there are differences.
We're all unique...

And, at the same time?
It's all just 'Fresno.'

Fly over it sometime at night,
and realize, that each little bronze and pearl green light is a hundred different stories,
-each dazzling, -each contrasted against the darkness, yet all in need of food, water, shelter, human interraction, -and a reason to continue.

People are beautifuly stupid.
They thrive on animosties and identifiers that really aren't there.
(Whatever...)

In the end?
It's all just Fresno
And we're all just a bunch of well groomed shoe wearing house-apes
taking the time to look into something different,
and coming away from each exposure, slightly changed.
(...nearly always for the better.)

And the tale of two cities continues...
For those who are against a second night because it's in North Fresno or Clovis, I'm willing to bet there are at least three more in the community who won't come to the first night because it's Downtown or in the Tower. And neither attitude is really supportive of the arts.
Perhaps those who love the downtown/Tower event should plant themselves up north to spread the good word.

Truth be told, there buckaroo...
-the sched has kept me from a lot of hoppin' in recent months, -so I've not done dwn-twn-twr in a while (dragged a couple of friends along down to see some glass blowing and such a couple of months ago, -we had a good time.)

Strangely enough?
-There is a MONSTER bike crowd up in N.E. Fresburg (aka 'God's Country,')
-and I think the folks up there may just really dig it...

-strangely further?
-the former leader of Bike-Hop (who I thought was abducted by UFO's or something,) happens to be twiddling wrenches and such up at Tri-Sport...

-And there are some 'new,' shops up in said areas (The new Stevens, 'Rubber Soul,' -and aformentioned Tri-Sport,) that are in the four corners of the globe of 'the great white north,'

---And anybody who has bombed along on the Woodward Park Trails and been swarmed past by a pack of Dr's / Lwyrs / and Church Groups, -etc... (mounted on bikes that cost more than my car and truck combined...)
-Realizes that they are
a.) packing some SERIOUS iron and
b.) like art and cultchuh too...

Yeppir, there is some major ground to cover,
---and that may be a bit of a stifle (unless we get a tight cluster of 'hop - sites going... I mean, seriously, even making the drop from Tower-Velo/Recycle down to Sorensons is a concentrated effort and can feel like pedalling across Ohio... I can't imagine asking folks to go from the Madera border over to the E. Side of Clovis...)

---but then again, these folks are used to slapping around road bikes for dozens of miles just for fun...
-so it might be more of a tri-athelon event...
(Which means I need to build a serious roadbike, and loose the gut.)
-But I swear, the Mormon Tab. Choir will be doing BonJovi covertunes before you catch the arse of yours truly wearing lycra and walking around showing everybody my religion THAT particular way... (thank-god they make what look like black cargo-shorts -but with all the padding and such inside... very comfy, -and oh zo che-che dorky (for that 'downhill-mtn.bk. Brooklyn look.)

(maybe I'll just try to introduce some cruisers with gears or comfort bikes to the masses...
-Sports Authority has some great models relatively cheap...)
Wait for the sales, then go for a K2 'Shorewood,' or (strangely enough) the Columbia 'Pathway,' (full cruiser frame, full fenders, WITH book rack, and 21 speeds... -this thing is a cool as snake's suspenders ---the mens and women's models being very easy on the eyes (both.) --right now I think it's going for about three and a half...)

-And would you believe, there are some rather sweet and unpretentious folks (churches even) that have been members of ArtHop for like, almost three years?
(Turns out Clovis Hills Comm. Church) has it's own gallery?,
and has been welcoming art-hoppers for at least that long...?
(It even has it's own group of ladies who are into road-bike events for fundraising, the the girls mean business too...)
(nice to know, considering, if you're going to make the schlepp out there, -they're offering water to be lifesaving AND culturally enriching, AND who bikes...

I see it as a great way to get folks out on two wheels (myself even, -been too busy building them,)

-And there are a lot of folks from the NorfSide of Fresburg who just aren't aware, or don't make the connection that ArtHop -and BikeHop can happen with them up there, who would LOVE this
----and even a bunch of folks who have done the 'traditional,' BikeHOP who already live there...
(I'm on First an Shaw, -dangerously close to both Fashion Fare and da Colledge...)

---This could be an excellent way to reveal 'cultchah,' where it's residing...
(which, anywhere you got people?
you got cultchah...
-just like yogurt (sometimes active cultchah's...)

It shan't be tonight, -but it's definitely something I'm thinking about.
(Need to get a NE map, and do a dry run of linking the sites together...
I think this could seriously work... may take a bit of planning, treachery and peril (but then again, I'm always up for a little peril...)

-Okay, Ben, where are you hiding...?

---PS:
In SBI Boardshop (up in Riverpark) there is a STUNNING Fixed gear limited edition (OBEY! -Andre the Giant) Fixie, that is annodized gold on Black, --with dropdown old style handlebars... This thing is pure lust... (going for a G, I hear...)
-Totally worth looking-and drooling at.

this was tried before but I guess it was unofficial when some of the "water color vineyard images" 'north Fresno art' had an art hop on a Saturdays, I guess that died.

until there is an interesting art gallery to the equivalent of say Chris Sorensen's Railroad and Van Ness Avenue Studio, in north Fresno, then I'll find the other art hop worthy of checking out, but still most all of the cool and interesting art is in the tower (central fresno) and south Fresno, Downtown Area.

http://www.fresnoarthop.org

i think there are plenty of creative folks all over fresno. and, if there was a spot in another part of town that had a cluster of 8 or so galleries, with another half dozen within five minutes drive, i might hit them up.

but, as it is, i'm not going to try and hit the downtown spots, the tower spots, and whatever other various galleries spread throughout the rest of town. just too much ground for me to cover.

i'm excited about the second night, and hope that people actually go out to the other venues...even if i might be too lazy to do so myself.

maybe ootv or one of the other bike hoppers can organize a bikehop for that one. but only for people willing to do some serious miles in a night.

I have to say I agree with edluv.

I was excited when I read about a second Art Hop, but my excitement disolved rather quickly upon hearing it would be in North Fresno. There is just something about North Fresno & Clovis that doesn't seem to welcome... creativity.

Nor the types of folks that like to attend Art Hop.

well, i will be really honest: i don't go to art hop outside of tower or downtown.

i know, i'm a bad person for this elitism. but, i know that i have been to a few shows over @ fresno state, some shows @ the art museum, one show in the herndon/cedar area, and i think that's about it for non-tower stops.

why? well, i think one of the main reasons is this:
"It's a mindset, and I happen to think that it works best as an urban mindset. The event works best when venues are clustered in the urban core and people can drift easily from one to another -- you're never more than five minutes away by car from another."

now, i'm not so convinced on the mindset thing as i am to the proximity cluster. the galleries that are in the area of van ness & mono are always bustling. and, on the right night there are 6 or 7 galleries open right there. mix in broadway studios, a few tower spots, and you've got yourself booked for the night.

and, i know, fresno isn't that big of city. 20 minutes pretty much gets you everywhere. but, still. i want to get to a gallery, spend some time looking @ the art, and then move on and repeat. if i have to drive to fresno state, then the tower area, then broadway, then the bus barns i'm spending so much time scooting about and that cuts into my gawkin time.