Peloton - November 2012

CASEY KELBAUGH, a New York-based photographer, not only
developed an inviting and exciting format for an art show, he took
it on the road. In the summer of 2000, while living in Seattle,
Kelbaugh put on his first Slideluck Potshow, a combination art
exhibit and potluck dinner, gathering friends and fellow artists for
an informal but productive exchange of creative visions.

Since that time, Slideluck Potshow has grown and expanded into a template that Kelbaugh and his producer Carly Planker have spread to cities around the globe. Often based on a loosely designed theme, the show assembles selected contributors’ work in a slide show format, fueled by local culinary talent.

point and realized that there were virtually no accessible opportunities to share my work, nor were there ways to see what my peers were up to.

Do you normally have a camera handy when you’re out on your bike? Not as much as I used to. Mine’s too heavy and my iPhone is too handy!

In May 2012, Kelbaugh launched the first Slideluck Bikeshow to celebrate the bicycle and its enduring inspiration to artists. Nineteen slide shows were selected for a special evening of outdoor food, music, and conversation on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Has there always been a subliminal tie between cycling and art shows, or did that simply grow out of your love for the bike as daily transportation? It seems counter intuitive, but I only really got into cycling when I moved to New York City. It’s by far the most efficient, logical, and fun way to get around town. I live in the East Village of Manhattan and I’ve been riding every single day for eight years; it’s very rare that I clock more than 10 miles.

Will there be a follow-up Slideluck Bikeshow in NYC or elsewhere? We definitely would like to see it happen again. We like the idea of having it travel to different shores and having it be tied together thematically, but somewhat localized each time. We currently have interest from the Bay Area and São Paulo.

The Bikeshow was full of good cheer, good beer, original and unique submissions. While every slide show was worthy of the assembled crowd’s attention, it was German photographer Dirk Anschütz who captured peloton’s eye with his series of off-beat, original portraits.

After the show, we put a few questions to Kelbaugh to learn more about Slideluck and his own adventures on two wheels.

I guess I like it because I’m too impatient to wait for subways, too cheap to pay for taxis, and it’s an opportunity to be outside and off my computer. It’s a fantastic way to get to know the city in its entirety (rather than pockets of it), it’s good exercise and it allows you to view New York from the street, which gives you a much better perspective than you get from a crowded sidewalk.

You recently held a Slideluck Potshow in London. How do the entries and atmosphere vary from city to city? I would say that the London show, which was about gender and identity, probably had a very different vibe from the Bikeshow. The artists involved, the location, theme, food, and people who attend really inform the vibe of the evening.

What’s your ride of choice? I ride a 1977 Schwinn Sportabout. It’s very upright, so I’m able to really observe what’s going on around me. I’ve always felt that cycling was New York City’s built-in adventure sport. There is absolutely nothing like bombing down Broadway. It feels like skiing.

Since every one of those elements changes each time, I would say that not only are all of the shows localized, but every single one is unique and quite distinct. ]p[

When did the Slideluck Potshow concept develop? Slideluck was born from a desire to bring to people together and a frustration with outlets for creative expression and dialogue. I was starting my photo career at that