National Endowment for the Arts: "...adults having fun so that children will desire to grow older.” (Hobart Brown, founder of kinetic sculpture racing)
If kinetic sculpture is where art and science play, then kinetic sculpture races are art in motion as people complete a racecourse on machines that they design and build.
6 comments:
This kinetic sculpture race seems like a lot of fun. I think that this blend of a vehicle and an art form is an absolutely amazing combination of science and the arts. I would love to go see one of this in person or even make a kinetic sculpture. This reminds me of the buggy racing that takes place at CMU. It seems like it is a way more artistic version of a buggy race and I like that alot. We have come to an inflection point in society where we know so much about math and science that the things we make are utilized to all of their potential and go the absolute fastest that is physically possible. Time differences are measured in thousandths of a second. (crazy right?) adding the extra layer of forcing the vehicle to be some sort of art form adds depth to these races and makes spectating twice as cool. You would not just be going to a race, you would be going to an art show.
Hey I used to live here! I unfortunately never did see the race as it was always during the summer and I would be working internships or regionally. That being said, it’s fascinating how a small ‘dad’ invention became a festival, a race, and even a subculture with their own ranks 42 years later. The Humboldt County community and the race community really do have their own set of rules all centered around having a good time. The article starts with a quote from the race’s founder on how important it is for children to see adults having fun so that they would want to become adults one day. While I read the audio transcription, I truly understood what he meant. I've seen many videos of the race and have seen friends of mine post pictures of their sculptures and it always seems like such a blast. The happiness of the contestants was contagious from the screen. We don’t often see adults playing around, letting loose, and doing things just for fun. It sets a charming example of adult activities that involve challenges and enjoyment. This article really made me miss my second home and I do hope someday to go back and see this race in person.
Wow, what an absolutely delightful idea! I've never heard of kinetic sculpture racing before. In fact, my only real exposure to kinetic sculpture in general is through Theo Jansen's Strandbeests. As such, my understanding was that it is generally a pretty high brow and conceptual art form, though that clearly is not the case here. As the author writes, "If kinetic sculpture is where art and science play, then kinetic sculpture races are art in motion as people complete a racecourse on machines that they design and build." In a lot of ways, I could see this happening at CMU, where arts and sciences often find overlapping areas of interest. I love that this whole tradition came out of someone saying that it sounded fun, so 'why not'? Kinetic sculpture racing has fun at its core, which is something that I think most of us could use more of these days.
I want to participate in this. I think what the article talks about is really cool and I love this idea of art and science being mixed into an event that challenges you. I also just want to spend my time designing one of those bikes or things and then using it to complete the race. However, I disagree with the comment that its for kids to desire to grow older. I think all children have a desire to grow older. I know that I did and no one I have ever known has not while they were a kid. I think that as you get older you like getting older less and less because of how your body responds and the responsibilities you have that you need to perform to live in such a complex world. I think this event is really for adults to remember what being a kid is like and to enjoy life the way you did as a kid. There is so much that you lose from your childhood days for reasons of choice and reasons of having more understanding. A reminder never hurts, and this is what that really is.
I think this is an insanely cool concept and such an awesome intersection of unbridled creativity and realistic science. This seems like the type of event that would attract a lot of people who have creative thoughts and ideas, but also find themselves thinking technically in general. I think it is so awesome that there are events out there that really are focused not just on art or science but a true combination of the two. I think also what is great about this event, is the genuine excitement, passion, and joy the competitors have for the activity. I think these are really projects of passion and fun, and honestly it feels rare to see so many adults giddy about anything. I feel like this is something I would not only love to be a spectator at, but also to be a participant in. It just seems like something that is really about having fun, and getting to think in a way that is rarely an option.
I think this concept is so interesting and unique in the exploration of where science meets art. Obviously these machines must be engineered so specifically so that they can handle the marathon of obstacle courses, but they also must please the whimsical aesthetic. This kind of reminds me of our last project we did in basic design. We would analyze a plant and see how the aesthetic features and the internal mechanics of the plant could influence a design of a home good. The plant could inform some of the function and from of our object like the concept of one of the racing machines could influence how the mechanics of the vehicle would race. I think that most people like to seperate art and science and dont think that they correlate too much. But as the past has proven often artists will discover a concept way before a scientist does. I think we need to blur the lines of science and art so that we ca remove the stigma of being an artist.
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