Officer Rabbit’s New Bike, oil on panel framed in faux-rosewood oval by Paul Zdepski
Officer rabbit started as mirrored-shooter-glasses, CHIP-style, Bugs Bunny-esque subject with a toddler’s kick scooter. He looked far too wise-ass in my sketchbook drawings. I was researching motorcycle clothing and came across an archive of Motorcycle Police from various small towns in middle-America. The photos were from the hey-day of Cycles in the 20s through 40s, before the negative elements of biker lifestyles were known. The officers show great pride in their spit-polish and ramrod stance. No slouching over the handlebars with this bunch. I chose to show Officer Rabbit in a photo of his first day with the latest bike in the arsenal of the Bethlehem, PA police department. America’s industrial strength is represented by Bethlehem Steel pouring progress into the air on the horizon. Officer Rabbit was recently on extended sleep-over at the Richmond Illustrators Club 2nd annual juried show at Ghostprint Gallery in Richmond, VA.