One of our favorite celebrations in Humboldt County is the Kinetic Sculpture Race. It begins here and takes a 40 mile journey over three days. No motorized vehicles, just human powered joy and beautiful art. We didn't go into to town to see the beginning of this race, but we watched them as they headed down the main road in town. We walked to the corner of our street and got to see some of these magnificent creatures as they made their way out of town. Some of the photos of the race in town are not mine, but were shared on a public site.
Update: I realize I should have put in a description of this race. This is what I found online that I think describes it so well: A local tradition since 1969, the Kinetic Race is no parade! In the Kinetic Grand Championship bodies of art and artist's bodies are put to the test. There's 40 miles to go, over land, sand, water, and mud. These intrepid Kinetinauts are a unique breed of human. With a heart full of joy and a bucket full of tools, they face innumerable obstacles for just one reason ... For the GLORY!
These kinetic sculptures will go along city streets, go through sand dunes and cross rivers. It is a wild journey and they are cheered on all along the way. We watched a news video on Sunday of the Grateful Squid entering the North Bay Channel. A few years ago we went to watch them all enter the water. It's quite a sight!
If
you click on the pics you'll see why we love this event so much. The
creativity and energy are so wonderful. We stood on the corner with many
of our delightful neighbors and cheered these racers on. Yes, for the
glory!
what fun! kind of like the Art Car Parade's little brother/sister. I wonder what the purpose of the pontoons are on the bikes in the third pic from the top. to keep them from falling over if they get tired? is this an actual race or a parade?
ReplyDeleteellen-- This is an actual race that goes on for three days over land, sand, water, and mud. I put an update on the post to describe it. It's been a three day event since 1969. We've gone to the water front to watch these sculptures enter the channel. It's wild and beautiful in every way.
DeleteNow that is a joyful artistic whimsical parade! I love the vehicles! Thank you for sharing it!
ReplyDelete37paddington-- It's both a parade and a real race that goes on for 40 miles over three days. These sculptures go on land, sand, water, and mud. They are incredible works of art and human powered mobility.
DeleteInteresting contraptions. I'll bet they had as much fun creating and building these contraptions as the do in riding in a parade. They look like they're having great fun.
ReplyDeleteRed-- I really I had put in this post the details of their three-day journey over land, sand, water, and mud. We have gone in the past to the waterfront and watched them enter the channel. They are truly amazing works of art and machinery.
DeleteTotally wonderful creations all pedal-powered! Simply wonderful. Your Califorian inspired members of that parade certainly came through with such humorous, and sometimes thoughtful, machines!
ReplyDeleteBarbara-- Yes, all pedal-powered and able to move over land, sand, water, and mud. We have, in the past, watched these sculptures enter the water and paddle their way back to land. They are incredible human powered machines.
DeleteReminds of float building in high school for the Homecoming parade.
ReplyDeleteMuch, much, much fancier, though! Great fun!
EllenD-- The Kinetic Sculpture race has been a tradition here since 1969. These human-powered machines go over land, water, sand, and mud. It is a true pleasure to watch them. So much fun!
DeleteThat looks great! I love the spirit.
ReplyDeleteColette-- That spirit is why we go. It's a delight in every way. We love it!
DeleteAmazing creativity! The squid and the goose are the winners in my book. (But are they judged on design, or just on speed?)
ReplyDeleteSteve-- Those two are our favorites as well. Such beautiful creativity. Good question about design. I just checked their website and there are all kinds of awards: art, speed, pageantry, best bribe, best campsite, etc!
DeleteWhat a fun event, Robin, and it is definitely one I would have enjoyed seeing. There should be a prize for everyone just for participation and creativity as well. I was hard-pressed to name a favorite here.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice-- It really is one of our favorite things to watch here. So creative and full of joy. I just checked the race website and found that there are all kinds of prizes and awards: art, speed, pageantry, best bribe, best campsite, etc!
DeleteHuman ingenuity at its finest! These folks should be put in charge of the world.
ReplyDeleteJohn-- What a great idea! We would live on such a wonderfully creative, artistic and delightful planet.
DeleteI wish I could see these on a larger screen than my cellphone. Maybe tomorrow....
ReplyDeleteI think that sign says "For the Gory"!
Absolutely crazy awesome human-powered machines. LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing this. What a blessing to see them in the flesh, so to speak.
Ccorax
CCorax-- I hope you get to take a look on a bigger screen. They really are awesome human-powered machines. It's truly our most favorite event here. For the glory!!
DeleteYou know that is pretty awesome, we never seem to have anything like that here
ReplyDeleteBilly-- It is one of most favorite events here on the north coast. A true delight in every way!
DeleteThis looks like so much fun. Clever people doing creative things. Thanks for sharing the photos.
ReplyDeleteAlly-- We so love these kinetic sculptures. The creativity and beauty are truly a delight. We are always so glad we can just walk down the street to the corner and watch this ... cheering For The Glory!
DeleteTwo other things come to mind: The money spent and the engineering ingenuity required. A reminder, for me at least, that in the sixties the US seemed to be a "can-do society", neighbours extending their houses with raised decks or building themselves three-bedroom cabins out in the woods. I felt I had to catch up. Even went as far as installing an a/c unit in my rented house. Is it my impresssion but has "can-do" USA shrunk over the decades?
ReplyDeleteI see in that under Blogs We Love To Read, my latest post is listed but without the headline - unlike the other posts. Was it too suggestive in some way?
Roderick-- I hadn't thought about that era of the 60s in that way before and I love it. Yes, I do think that there was a "can-do" perspective. It may be why as a teenager I took to the streets and marched to try and stop the war in Viet Nam. I think the "can-do" perspective has gotten small, like an iPhone you can hold in the palm of your hand and connect with world.
DeleteI don't manually update the Blogs We Love To Read. I have blogger set to add blogs when they are newly updated. It has always added titles. I have no idea why it did not add the title of your latest blog post. Mmm? I'll have to check on that.