Literature:

Literature: Sarah Milroy, “Greg Curnoe: Time Machines”, Greg Curnoe: Life & Stuff, Toronto, 2001, pages 68 and 80.

Christopher Dewdney, “Evident Truths: Greg Curnoe 1936-1992” (pamphlet), National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, 1995.

Note:

Executed from December 1985-March 1986.

Curnoe’s recurrent use of the bicycle motif highlights his unique technical skill with the often unpredictable medium of watercolour. Rediscovering a passion for cycling in the early seventies, Christopher Dewdney remarks how Greg was able to “fuse three separate interests into one: racing machines, personal participation in physically demanding competitive sport, and painting.” “Silva Disc Wheel” underscores Curnoe’s incredible passion for cycling that remained with the artist until his death in 1992, which occurred during a Saturday morning ride with the London Centennial Wheelers.

Sarah Milroy writes how Curnoe had “described bicycles as a form of functional collage; through a limitless refining of the component parts, the cycle aficionado could produce a lighter and lighter machine.” “Silva Disc Wheel” was given by Curnoe to the owner of a Toronto bicycle shop in exchange for his very own clear anodized Silva disc wheel.