Photograph by Sarah McCosham
Tony McCosham and I had one of our first dates at the Cincinnati Art Museum. It was a long time ago; I would tell you exactly how long ago, but I actually don’t remember. I think it was November 2002? Back then, there was no Art Climb, no Pinocchio, and no free admission. But the magic was there, and wandering through the galleries, brushing arms but not holding hands, on a chilly fall night felt completely lovely and perfect.
Photograph by Sarah McCosham
Throughout the years, CAM has been a constant for our family; it was one of our very first outings as new parents to a two-week-old Julian and taking my crew (including a not-yet-walking Pearl) to the Burning Man exhibition in 2019 remains one of my fondest, funnest memories.
Mom McCosham took the kids over my birthday weekend so Tony McCosham and I could celebrate together. He came up with a list of ideas that I will consult for later weekends, because Cycle Thru! at the Cincinnati Art Museum was an easy choice.
Running through August 24, 2025, Cycle Thru! The Art of the Bike is an ode to two wheels and features 20 bicycles from the 1860s to today, along with bike-inspired art and photographs. The bicycles, from The Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen, Ohio, are a fusion of function and fashion, each more curious than the next. The exhibit does come with an admission charge; however, as someone who used to pay admission every time they visited CAM, I absolutely don’t mind supporting this Cincinnati cornerstone.
Photograph by Sarah McCosham
My favorite was Pee-wee Herman’s bright red 1953 Schwinn DX Cruiser from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (I am a child of the ’80s, after all), but I enjoyed all of the bikes from the mid-century, particularly the cerulean Elgin Bluebird, with its sleek lines and red accents.
Aesthetics aside, the invention of the bicycle is truly remarkable and revolutionary, spanning cultures, gender, and generations and opening up a world of travel, connection, and possibility. Cycle Thru! invites visitors to reflect on how two wheels have shaped life as we know it today, in ways both big and small.
After reading all the placards and perusing the prints, we wandered; both of us love realism (Elizabeth Nourse’s A Mother is my favorite piece in the entire museum) and we made a point of visiting Brown, Orange, Blue on Maroon in the Contemporary wing—it was in front of this Rothko that Tony McCosham nervously reached for my hand so many years ago.
Photograph by Tony McCosham
Of course, on this bluebird Saturday in May, we held hands casually and comfortably, with a closeness that comes from a life lived together, with the promise of many more moments and birthdays to come. And definitely more afternoons at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Eden Park, (513) 721-2787
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