Art and business intersect in bike builder Steve McGuire’s visit to the University of Arkansas

Steve McGuire (right) works with a University of Iowa mechanical engineering student during McGuire’s Fabrication and Design: Hand Built Bicycles class. (University of Iowa)

Internationally recognized 3D design professor and bike builder Steve McGuire is visiting the University of Arkansas this week.

McGuire, whose work is currently on display at the university’s sculpture building in the Windgate Art and Design District, will hold public workshops in Fayetteville and a lecture in Bentonville.

McGuire is known for his interdisciplinary coursework related to hand-built bikes, and his visit is a collaboration between the university’s art school and the business college, which will offer a new Master of Science in Product Innovation beginning this fall.

“Our Outdoor Industries team in the Walton College of Business is grateful to collaborate on this initiative,” said Taryn Mead, teaching assistant professor of product, innovation and management. “The intersection of sculpture, engineering and place-based design create such incredible opportunities for new business ventures and for our students.”

Public workshops will be held in the UA sculpture building (744 S. Hill Ave. in Fayetteville) from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, and Thursday, March 9. The workshops are free and open to the public. McGuire will have three hand-built frames and a series of drawings on view in the sculpture gallery through Thursday, March 9, which will be open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

McGuire’s public lecture is from from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at the Collaborative Common Kitchen located at 700 SE Fifth St. in Bentonville.

“Building a hand-made bicycle is truly an interdisciplinary activity,” said Vincent Edwards, the art school’s director of technology. “I think this week’s activities will bring people together from across the university and community. Steve brings a wealth of experience as an artist, designer and adventure cyclist, and as an avid mountain-bike rider myself, I’m excited to learn more about the craft and design process.”