Meme Ortega - Grass Track Racer

Meme Ortega is a Pomona local, avid cyclist, and artist whose past achievements include working at The Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, LA County Museum of Arts, and the Cal Poly Downtown Center.

Meme Ortega attended LA County High School for the Arts and has exhibited his work throughout Southern California. Meme uses all forms of media including drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture.

Meme painted this one for me a few years ago.  It a large painting and happens to be one of my favorites. It is in my office at work and many people ask if the racer is me. 

Meme Ortega - Jumping the Train

Meme Ortega is a Pomona local, avid cyclist, and artist whose past achievements include working at The Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, LA County Museum of Arts, and the Cal Poly Downtown Center.

Meme Ortega attended LA County High School for the Arts and has exhibited his work throughout Southern California. Meme uses all forms of media including drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture.

Carl B sent this picture to me.  It always amazes me the emails I get from friends, family and avid cyclists who view my blog.   Sometimes its a video or press release for some upcoming race.  Other times it's a funny picture.

Meme Ortega - Racing the Train

Meme Ortega is a Pomona local, avid cyclist, and artist whose past achievements include working at The Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, LA County Museum of Arts, and the Cal Poly Downtown Center.

Meme Ortega attended LA County High School for the Arts and has exhibited his work throughout Southern California. Meme uses all forms of media including drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture.

While surfing the net, I found this little picture of a cyclist racing a train.  It turns out its an old Remington advertisement.  I loved it so much I asked Meme to paint it for me.

What I like most about this photo is the olde time bicycle, fixed gear, I presume, racing the train.  It reminds me of Clark Kent (Superman) as a young boy racing the train while heading home from school.   The picture epitomizes the pure joy and elation one gets while riding a bike. With the wind in the face and at top speed, riding is freedom.

Meme Ortega - Local Artist and Avid Cyclist

Meme Ortega is a Pomona local, avid cyclist, and artist whose past achievements include working at The Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, LA County Museum of Arts, and the Cal Poly Downtown Center.

Meme Ortega attended LA County High School for the Arts and has exhibited his work throughout Southern California. Meme uses all forms of media including drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture.

In recent years he has chosen Micky Mouse as his satirical commentary.  "I wanted to put Micky in situations Disney would never approve of." Take for instance Micky in Drag, in which Micky is wearing lipstick and high heels.  Or CSI Micky, where Micky is the subject a murder investigation.

Nine years ago I met Meme at his Ortega Family New Years Party and it wasn't until four years later, at this annual pool party, that we deciding to go riding.  Like me, Meme equally enjoys riding as well as tinkering with bikes.  More often then not Meme has multiple bike (or art) projects going at once. 

Recently I commissioned Meme to paint me a few pictures.  The first is painting of a picture I took last year in Santa Barbara.  This one is for Jamie's Grandmother who has a number of nautical themed works of art in her house.  I've been wanting to give her something like this for a number of years. 

Link to Boats in Santa Barbara Harbor photo...

Santa Barbara is a special place for Jamie and I.  We love the harbor and enjoy eating at Brophy's.

In the next few days I will post additional peices of bicycle themed paintings Meme did for me.

Jumping the Train

More on this one later as well. Sent in from Carl B.

Racing The Train

I found this cool picture a few weeks ago.  More to come about this.

Are Big Gears a Thing of the Past?

I often come across vintage bicycle pictures with guys on what seem to be track bikes with ginormous gearing.  What's that all about?

These pictures always remind me of Meme, who loves to mash big gears with his big legs.

Meme and Charlie Ride to the Beach

Friday night on FB Meme writes, "Big New Year Ride," and I knew this must mean Beach Ride.  Sure enough Charlie and Meme rode down SART to Newport.  This would be Charlie's first beach ride and I hope Meme took him to Chicago Bikes and Chronic Taco.

Beach Ride

Meme and Kevin rode to the beach today.

Girl on a Bike

Art by Memo Ortega

Mem-icky

Last night Kevin and I went down to the Pomona Arts Colony to see Meme's Art Show. It was being held in the old Press Bulletin building in Downtown Pomona (soon be converted into a Tequila Bar). Cars and crowds converged all around the Arts Colony and a long line formed around the Fox Theater. Last Night's performer was none other than Snoop Dogg!

Meme's showing proved to be a success, and drew a decent crowd to view his work and sample Tequila. Meme's art consisted of nudes, Lucha Libre, Mickey, sculptures and etc. Meme also had work at Bunny Gunner.







Above: Who's Your Daddy?


Above - Mickey Kong, this one is my favorite.


Bunny Gunner Showcased a number of Meme's painting.


Above - Art by Juan Thorp


Downtown Pomona was bustling with people. Snoop Dogg was performing at the Fox Theater.



Filipino Cuisine!


Below - Various Artist

Meme's Word Nerd Mixie is Coming Alive

Looking good. This is a project for his English Teacher Wife.

Monster Cross - Meme's GT Tempest

Meme has a problem. He loves bicycles, he loves GTs. Last week he bought a 1995 (?) GT Tempest. Its a well built green 7001 series aluminum frame and I'm not sure of the group.

We decided to make it a monster cross frankenbike. We swapped out the straight bars for drops and will make use of Kevin's old Deore XT cranks. If it was up to me, I throw on some Paul V Brakes, Thompson Seat Post and Stem. I'd go SS, with WI Cranks and Eno Rear hub. OR, maybe a 1 X 9 with bar end shifters!