Bike parts fashioned into objects d'art at Arizona shop

The Bicycle Inter-Community Action and Salvage project of Tucson answers that question Sunday at its 10th annual art auction.

BICAS is a nonprofit community coop where people can buy or rent bicycles.

But most importantly, it's a place where people can learn how to do repairs on their own bicycles. Cyclists can bring in their bike, rent some workshop space, buy a few used parts, and learn how to refurbish their bike under the direction of experts working nearby. Can't afford to rent? There's a work-trade program.

There's also a custom metalwork shop where people can make useful items out of old bike parts. That's where the objects for the auction come from.

The Tucson Citizen reports that last year's auction raised $5,000 used for general operating expenses. Some of this year items are useful — such as chairs, wine racks, lamps — or decorative, such as the dog pictured above.

How many of us have thought about turning an old bicycle into a lamp? Apparently it can be done.