"Steel is real"—or so they say. Designer Josh Hadar takes this pithy statement to heart, crafting some of the wildest steel fabrications we've ever seen. The New Museum's "Festival of Ideas" will see Hadar's first exhibition, "The Evolution of Steel," showcasing several years' worth of eco-conscious bike and 'tree' designs from his eponymous metal shop.New sculptural art installations... bring evolving environmental technologies to the forefront of the art world, [including] the first completely solar powered electric vehicles and photovoltaic steel trees, all with Hadar's innovative and unique flair.

Video and more after the jump...

Hadar literally manufactures—as in, makes with his hands—the sinuous curves of the bikes by bending them around fire hydrants, lamp posts, railings, etc. Although he started out with a chopper template, Hadar is best known for his newer 'teardrop' style, which is characterized both by its distinctive form factor and colored glass 'heart,' a stylized fuel tank for the 80cc motor.

While the bikes have a DIY-gearhead appeal, both in terms of concept and execution, Hadar's series of steel trees is more explicitly sculptural, echoing the sprawling fabrications of Roxy Paine on a smaller scale. These initially grew out of experiments with recycled bicycle frames, though they are now works of art in their own right.

Be sure to stop by "The Evolution of Steel" at 285 Lafayette during the Festival of Ideas.