Jerry Dean - The unique artisan | Ductalk: What's Up In The World Of Ducati | Scoop.it
Jerry Dean has one of the most significant collections of Ducati motorcycles in North America. His extensive collection reflects a life-long love affair with the brand.Jerry doesn’t just go out and buy significant bikes. Jerry discovers bikes that most of us wouldn’t give a second glance to in lakes, swap meets and on the back of pick-ups. He brings home rusted, broken, neglected motorcycles and he brings them back to life.As he works, he pictures the finished item and transforms each junky bike into a thing of beauty. This is art in its most pure form.Jerry is a toolmaker by trade, but an artisan by design. He builds frames, paints all his bikes, rebuilds all the mechanicals, casts dies for them, and even does his own upholstery.He is the last of a dying breed, a true artisan who is working to keep the legacy of Ducati alive and well. His home is a mix of madness and genius. He can tell you about every part on every bike, where he sourced it—or how he made it. As we move from room to room, another chapter in Ducati’s history is unveiled.Spending the day with Jerry was something I will never forget. His knowledge and passion for all things Ducati is incredible and the bikes he builds–well they are the stuff of legends.There is something deeply satisfying in shaping something with your hands. Proper artificing is like a song made solid. It is an act of creation. ― Patrick Rothfuss