"Project Bike, The Final Stretch" Film Premier

“Project Bike, The Final Stretch” tells the story of Sikkila's struggling past and how those experiences shaped her creative motivation, emphasizing how the arts can transform our lives. Sikkila shares how growing up and experiencing anxiety and depression, led to troubling times in her twenties, which landed her in jail and detox centers several times. Through rebirth Sikkila was able to turn her life around and started believing she had the power to make change, which then developed into Project Bike. Over 5 years (durning the summer of 2015-2019), Project Bike traveled the state of MN, biking and camping from one end of the state to the other. Sikkila interviewed visual artists in their studios and homes about the pains and profits of being a working creative. Along with her traveling gear, Sikkila collects multiple works of art from each artist, developing Minnesota's only state-wide arts exhibition curated by the bicycle. “Project Bike, The Final Stretch” shares Minnesota artist's stories and gives its viewers an inside look on how these artists create, think, and live. 

Project Bike is Minnesota's only woman led bicycle tour with visual artists and their studios setting the destinations. For five years creative leader Dana Sikkila has set out on a one of a kind art/bike tour, advocating for the important point that every artist has skills and creative ideas to help grow and sustain their communities. Over the years, with her bike, trailer, and film crew, Sikkila has biked over 3,200 miles connecting with Minnesota artists living in communities ranging from the rural to large cities, learning what motivates her fellow Minnesotans to create art. Project Bike's mission is to showcase that art and artists are truly part of our chemistry as individuals, as communities, and as a state. 

Directed by Alec Schwandt
Produced by Dana Sikkila and Alex Kohnstamm
Featuring Dana Sikkila (Director of the 410 Project) and Kyle Zeiszler
“Project Bike, The Final Stretch”, to premiere at the Twin Cities Film Fest October 30th at 1:45pm.
This full length documentary tells the story of artist Dana Sikkila and her journey to share other artist's stories. 

Artist included in this years Project Bike 

• Josh Tolkan – Boat Maker/Woodworker – Grand Marais 
• Patricia Canelake – Painter/Printmaker - Knife River 
• Karen McTavish – Quilt Maker - Duluth 
• Adam Swanson – Painter – Cloquet
• Ken and Pat Larson – Ceramic Sculpture - Sturgeon Lake
• Hend Al-Mansour – Printmaker – St. Paul 
• Russ White – Color Pencil and Installation – Minneapolis 
• Jordan Carpenter – Costume Design – Red Wing 
• Lauren Jacobson – Photography – Faribault 
• Michelle Schloesser Kaisersatt – Ceramic Pottery – St. Peter 

In person, one showing only tickets are $12. But if can't make it in person on the 30th, you can purchase a ticket to stream it online for just $9!

Come join me in watching our journey, I'm sure there will be lots of tears and lots of love. 

VIEW THE FILMS TRAILER AT THE LINK BELOW.
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY.....CLICK THE LINK!

https://twincitiesfilmfest.org/theater-event/project-bike