Kinetic non-profit, Hobart art join forces in Downtown Eureka
Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel
An early holiday gift is on the offing for Kinetic Sculpture racers and fans alike.
Due to the generosity of Dan and Jayne Ollivier, owners of the historic Gross Building, and of many other generous supporters, the Kinetic Sculpture Race Museum has been re-established in Humboldt County.
Located at the corner of Fifth Street and F Street in Downtown Eureka, the museum is to be run as part Kinetic hub, part gallery and part contemporary art studio cooperative. The resurrected non-profit running the Kinetic Sculpture Race, the Humboldt Kinetic Association, will jointly operate the space with Hobart Art And Kinetics, the brainchild of Justin Hobart Brown, the heir of Hobart Galleries and the present owner of the race.
'Pentacycle' by Hobart Brown.
The original Hobart Galleries, located in Ferndale for the first few decades of race history and featuring the world-famous artwork of Kinetic Sculpture Race founder Hobart Brown, was shut down after the passing “Glorious Founder” and an ensuing battle over ownership of the gallery and its contents. Some of these pieces were preserved by Brown’s son, and among these was the “Pentacycle,” an original Kinetic Sculpture by his father which graces the front display window of the museum as of Saturday.
Although more pieces from the 43 years of Kinetic Sculpture Race history will be installed in the coming days, the formal grand opening is scheduled for just after the new year on January 7, 2012 and will include live music and dancing. HKA will be accepting memberships at that time, and also intends to offer retail space for local artists and craters to sell handmade creations.
Brown put out the call in a press statement for current and former kinetic racers, volunteers and enthusiasts to loan or donate race items such as props, costumes, bribes, trophies and the various historic kinetic sculptures hidden away in barns, garages and sheds around Humboldt County.
“The Kinetic Sculpture Race Museum asks the community to embrace Hobart’s vision and help create a dynamic hub for not only Kinetics but also all things fun and funny,” Brown stated. “Upcoming plans include hands-on workshops, themed art competitions, fundraising events, lectures and any other creative, inclusive ideas we can dream up!”
Volunteers to help with the construction of the museum, gallery and artist studio spaces are also in demand, as are basic items such as cabinets, shelving and workbenches. For more information, contact Brown at justinhobartbrown@msn.com or call the HKA at (707) 443-8261.
Great news, though a little clarification may be in order. Saying that “the Kinetic Sculpture Race Museum has been re-established in Humboldt County” may give one the impression that it had been lost at some point. On the contrary, the museum has been and is still in it’s original Ferndale home. Yes, “race” has been dropped from the name, the interior has been updated and the number of machines has decreased by about 25%, but it’s still the home of Kinetic Madness that it always was.
In the end this is all good news. The Ferndale Museum has no extra storage facility, so many wonderful sculptures have been turned away over the years. Now, with another museum in Humboldt County people will have even more opportunity to see all the amazing works associated with this incredible event, not to mention the art work of the “Glorious Founder”, Hobart Brown.
R.J. Frost
Former Curator, Ferndale Kinetic Sculpture Museum
Bitter words from a source unwilling to show their face.
Lest there be further confusion, the “bitter words” comment was left by a detractor, not me.