Also this issue: Music Man James Sugg finds songwriting method amid madness. -Juliet Fletcher Coming Out of the Dark A move into white for Thomas Chimes and vibrant work from Stuart Netsky light up Locks Gallery. -Robin Rice Preston Foerder -Debra Auspitz Curtis Opera Theatre's French Comic One Acts -David Shengold River North Chicago Dance Company -Janet Anderson City of Angels -David Anthony Fox Fiction -Toby Zinman The Tempest -Toby Zinman

April 10-16, 2003

artpicks

Funky Junk Auction/Bike Parts Art Raid

by Debra Auspitz

There are certain people you know could just have a killer junk sale. You know, antique-minded pack rats, who have amazing collections of stuff that's just crying out for a yard sale or an auction. Todd Kimmell's Lost Highways Archive and Research Library just might be the king of such collections, with hundreds of miscellaneous items (mostly 20th-century) and memorabilia. We're in luck. Kimmell is cleaning out his stock as Lost Highways moves to a new space, and he's willing to give it all up to the highest bidder. Kimmell is known around town as quite the auctioneer, and he'll be leading an afternoon that's sure to be more of a party than anything Sotheby's could imagine. Attendees are encouraged to bring singles and fives to the cash-only event, as Kimmell promises that though the lots will be valuable, the prices will be cheap.

Before you see all of these great pieces of the past, get inspired by heading over to West Philly to take part in Neighborhood Bike Works' "art raid." Artists can pick up tons of bike parts, use them to make a piece of art and then offer that art up for auction in June to raise money for NBW, an organization that lets West Philly kids earn bicycles through participating in programs on bike safety, repair and maintenance. And when the bike art is put on the block, guess who'll be running the show? Yup, Todd Kimmell.

Funky Junk Auction, Sat., April 12, 2 p.m., Lost Highways Archive, 307 Market St., second floor, 215-925-2568; Bike Parts Art Raid, Sat., April 12, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., parish building behind St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk, 215-386-0316.

-- Respond to this article in our Forums -- click to jump there