Kinetic Sculpture Race 2023
The Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race is back in person Saturday, May 6. Opening ceremonies at AVAM at 9:30 a.m., the race begins at 10 a.m., and most teams are likely to cross the finish line 3:15–4:30 p.m. Check out the 2023 Spectator’s Guide for information on how to enjoy the race from the sidelines.
Kinetic Sculptures are amphibious, human-powered works of art custom built for the race. Each May, the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) produces and hosts the East Coast Kinetic Sculpture Race Championship on the shore of Baltimore’s Harbor in central Maryland. The eight-hour race covers 15 miles—mostly on pavement, but also including a trip into the Chesapeake Bay and through mud and sand.
Kinetic Sculpture Racing began in Ferndale, California in 1969 when artist Hobart Brown upgraded his son’s tricycle into a 5-wheeled pentacycle and was challenged to a race down Main Street. (Hobart did not win.) Over the decades since, the California race evolved into a 3-day all-terrain Kinetic Grand Championship including treacherous sand dunes, water crossings, and elaborate sculptures and costumes. You can learn more on Wikipedia including a list of other races nationwide.
