The world is filled with talented artists so there is no shortage of original art, limited edition prints, or open edition printed art to decorate with. But there is an alternative. Using keepsake items and photographs you can work with a custom framer to create and decorate with one-of-a-kind art that has a personal connection and tells a story. Here is an example.
In 1974 it would be another 15 years before the Soviet Union would fall and the Berlin Wall would be smashed to pieces, yet somehow 300 East German MZ (Motorradwerk Zschopau) TS250 motorcycles find there way to the port city of Baltimore. They are held there for over 2 years because they do not meet DOT requirements. After minor modifications and a mountain of paperwork the bikes are certified as street legal but by now they are over 2 years old and no longer considered "new".
The 300 bikes are purchased by a dealer in New Orleans and 100 of them are then sold as a lot to a dealer in Blaine, MN. At $300 each, it takes another 2 years for all of these to be sold. In the spring of 1978 I bought the next to the last one. It was unique and attracted lots of attention but it was also finicky and underpowered. It was also yellow! After one riding season I sold it and bought a Kawasaki. But there are fond memories of that goofy east European motorcycle with such a rich history. You see, at one time MZ was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. And in the 1960s MZ dominated the off road racing circuit winning the prestigious International Six Days Trials, otherwise known as the "Olympics of Motorcycle Racing", in 1963, '64, '65, '66, '67, and '69. On a side note, in 1964 the MZ team beat Steve McQueen and his 2nd place American team who were riding Triumphs.
The coolest part of the TS250 was the commemorative gas cap documenting MZ's racing success. Here are pictures of that funky 1974 MZ and an actual gas cap. And what would be more appropriate than to frame the entire project using black leather?
If you are interested in more ideas for decorating with memories, here is a link to more examples: www.fastframelakeville.com/EXAMPLES_IDEAS.htm
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?
