HISD art clubs and classes assembled at MacGregor Park to take part in the 2023 Houston Art Bike Parade and Festival on Saturday, May 13. Presented by the Houston Parks Board and The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, the Art Bike Festival is an annual opportunity for students and community artists to showcase their creativity and to explore the bayou trails around the park.

The Art Bike Festival began with a parade through the park where participants showed off their creations: recycled bicycles elevated to moving works of art. In addition to the parade, MacGregor Park saw dozens of community contributors including vendors, food and drink, and live music.

The parade began at 10:15 a.m., concluded at noon, and was immediately followed by the awards ceremony where winning bikes were recognized in categories like “Biking up S.T.E.A.M,”—the bike that best utilized science, technology, engineering, art and math—and “It’s ALIVE!!!”—the Art Bike that looked the most like a real animal.

“My art club members were able to collaborate with students from different classes and grade levels, and I think this allowed a new sense of leadership, as well,” said Nicole Witt, a teacher at Shearn Elementary. “Combining art with riding bikes at a city-wide event was an awesome way for our students to represent our school outside of our campus. They were so proud and are already looking forward to the 2024 parade!”

Eleven HISD schools won awards at this year’s Art Bike Festival in the following categories:

We Made THIS Bike
Clifton Middle School
“The Dragon Flyer”

To Bike or Not to Bike
Fonwood Early Childhood Center
“The Pencil Bike”

Imagination Station
Frank Black Middle School

Recognize the Size
Shearn Elementary
“Under the Sea”

You Call This School Spirit?
Carillo Elementary

Repurpose with a Purpose
Houston MSTC

Colorfully Artsy
Harvard Elementary

Biking Up S.T.E.A.M
Davila Elementary

It’s ALIVE!!!
Red Elementary

Crowd Favorite
Burbank Elementary
“Flaming Hot Cheetos Bike”

Community Spirit Award
Betsy Ross Elementary

“My students have really allowed themselves to be more creative in the classroom through their participation in the bike festival,” said Luz Martinez, art teacher at Frank Black Middle School. “I’ve never heard the students be so positive and encouraging when working as a team, problem solving ideas and finding solutions. They encourage each other’s creativity and artwork now more than ever. Without this community project, many of the participants might never learn how capable and creative they truly are.”

Thirty HISD schools participated in the Art Bike Festival this year with that number only expected to grow.

Bastian Elementary
Bonham Elementary
Browning Elementary
Burbank Elementary
Carillo Elementary
Crockett Elementary
Davila Elementary
Fonwood Early Childhood Center
Garden Oaks Montessori
Hartsfield Elementary
Harvard Elementary
Hines-Caldwell Elementary
Love Elementary
Gregg Elementary
White Elementary
Patterson Elementary
Red Elementary
Roberts Elementary
Ross Elementary
Shearn Elementary
Clifton Middle School
Edison Middle School
Black Middle School
Pin Oak Middle School
Thomas Middle School
Eastwood Academy
Heights High School
Northside High School
Houston MSTC
Young Women’s College Prep

For information on the Houston Art Bike Festival, visit their website, and for more about HISD’s Fine Arts Department and their upcoming Summer Art Intensives, click here.