Dream Machine, 2014
Cycling is more than just transportation—it is a rhythm, a meditation, and a form of resistance. Natural Movement emerged from a desire to capture this experience in a kinetic, interactive form. It is about reclaiming time from machines, about feeling the physicality of movement, and about transforming discarded materials into something sacred and enduring.
This installation takes the bicycle—an everyday object of freedom—and reimagines it as an interconnected system of movement and energy. The painted mandalas mounted on scavenged wheels are not just designs; they are mechanical prayers, spinning in rhythm with the city. Their movement is a dialogue between the self and the environment, between human intention and mechanical motion.
Originally conceived in 2014 and rebuilt in 2018, Natural Movement has evolved alongside the city, adapting to time, weather, and even theft. It is a living work, sustained through restoration, expansion, and the participation of a growing community of artists. At the request of the Alliance for Pioneer Square, Natural Movement was rebuilt for a third time in 2023 with support from the Pioneer Square Inspiration Fund, ensuring its continued presence in Nord Alley. This grant-funded restoration revitalized existing sculptures and introduced new works, reinforcing the project’s long-term integration into the fabric of the neighborhood.
This installation would not be possible without the collaboration and support of many individuals and organizations. New Mystics has been instrumental in both the creative process and the community dialogue surrounding the work. Back Alley Bikes and Bike Works have generously contributed materials, breathing new life into salvaged bicycle components. Davis Sign Company has provided essential engineering and construction support, ensuring the durability of the installation. The Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area (BIA) and the Alliance for Pioneer Square have offered critical financial and logistical backing, reaffirming the value of public art in the district.
At its core, Natural Movement is a collaboration—not just between artists, but between the public and the work itself. Visitors are invited to interact, to spin the wheels, to set the mandalas in motion. The Prayer Wheel, with its inscribed words, transforms the simple act of turning a wheel into an invocation. Every cycle sends a message into the air, a fleeting but continuous contribution to the city’s energy.
As we celebrate a decade of Natural Movement, the hope is not just to preserve this work but to ensure it has a lasting place in the landscape of Pioneer Square. With every rotation, it echoes the quiet, persistent power of movement—the freedom of cycling, the rhythm of the body, the enduring force of creativity.
Supporting Organizations & Sponsors
New Mystics – Collaborative art collective
Back Alley Bikes – Material and logistical support
Bike Works – Donation of bicycle parts
Davis Sign Company – Engineering and construction support
Pioneer Square Business Improvement Area (BIA) – Financial backing
Alliance for Pioneer Square – Logistical and financial support
Pioneer Square Inspiration Fund – Grant provider for 2023 rebuild and spans over a decade:
Original Designers & Engineers (2014)
Aubrey Birdwell – Fabricator, design engineer, curator
Colin Mikel Northcraft – Design engineer
Primary Collaborating Collective
New Mystics
Artists & Contributors
Sign Savant
Baldman Watching
Darya Husak
Baso Fibonacci
DK Pan
Smurf
Feleisha Cannalora (recovered lost work)
Groucho (recovered lost work)
Jenny Riffle (new work)
PROOF (new work)
Dan Hawkins (new work)
Dani Blackwell (new work)
Yale Wolf (new work)
No Touching Ground (new work)
Taris Ross – Poet (new work for Prayer Wheel)
Justin Philips (new work)
Tom Chapel (new work)
Prayer Wheel, 2014
From the Original Release: designed and engineered by Aubrey Birdwell and Colin Mikel Northcraft in collaboration with NM, we have created five new sculptures referencing the sacred geometry found in Buddhist sand painting and prayer practices. The “DREAM MACHINES” are four sculptures featuring human powered, painted mandalas mounted on scavenged bicycle wheels, connected through a series of bicycle based clockwork.
Give “PRAYER WHEEL” a spin next time you ride by and release the energy of the cyclist prayers inscribed on the wheel. Composed of discarded BMX wheels, “PRAYER WHEEL” references a traditional Buddhist prayer wheel and features poems written by the NM members, “PRAYER WHEEL” is an interactive missive sending an endless stream of good vibes into the universe.
“PRAYER WHEEL”, through the grace of the Nord building owner and the support Back Alley Bikes, will remain permanently installed in Nord alley to continue sending positive messages through the cyclesphere in Seattle. New Mystics is excited about making a lasting contribution to a community that has empowered and entertained us so long....
