Trail Jam, 2011
The world lost an influential creative figure on September 20th, 2011.
Rickey Bates was an exceptional manipulator of the resources accessible to him. He rode BMX bikes for some 15 years, rode them hard and wherever he deemed plausible – legality never mattered. The images and videos captured of him over his tenure now represent the void left by his performance over those obstacles and through the conditions that made them otherwise impossible. We are left to consider the spaces we inhabit in our lives, the ones we choose and fight for.
High School Graduation Parking Lot, 2005
Rickey and his friend Gary were both lost in a car accident in Arizona after a bike convention in Las Vegas. Hearing the news made my heart stop for a second. The magnitude of the void we now feel permeates through the countless memories that he left upon us. His productivity in this world is reflected in the countless images he left with us. His style and personality are so clearly evident in each; undeniably clever and determined for the sake of determination.
Take some time and go check out some of his videos on youtube and vimeo. There’s links on his blog, http://bannedbmx.blogspot.com. You’ll be impressed whether you know a thing of the sport or not.
We’ll miss you, Rickey and Gary.
Also, Matthew Uhl who was lost in the tragedy.
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