Artist Extraordinaire Captured by Long Beach Bikers, Rescued
It all kicked off at a local shop, McQuiston’s Custom Cycles. We’ve featured Ryan and his gang a couple of times in Cycle Source Magazine. They are as close to the notion of an old school shop as possible, in this age of over regulation and vast and unrelenting technology. Ryan still bangs away on old Triumphs, Ironhead Sportsters, and Shovelheads. He’s been busted by the man, the Port Authority, City Inspectors, Long Beach cops, OSHA, and the EPA. Oh, and building and safety, sorry.
I was at his shop interviewing him while welders buzzed, grinders sparked, and the cell phones rang. In the midst of metal dust upheaval stood a tall brunette bombshell painting a fine art skull and rose on the side of a chipped and scratched helmet. She painted with acrylics and brushes in her day-of-the-dead style. I was completely caught off guard. What the hell is a fine artist in skin-tight denims doing here, and what the hell is fine art doing on a motorcycle helmet. We started talking. Continue reading.
