Kinetic Sculpture Race Is This Weekend

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's one of the most exciting and imaginative events in Baltimore and it always draws a big crowd.

Ron Matz has more on the human-powered works of art that will hit the streets of Charm City Saturday.

You can't miss them: the contestants in Baltimore's annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. There are nine entries from the students and teachers at the Jemicy School.

"It's a wonderful learning experience fro the students. They get to use their hands all year long. There's problem-solving, organizing, mathematics and engineering," said August DiMucci. "My kids love it. They love to work with one another. They like to see their ideas come alive. The actual racing is the topping on the cake."

No motors; all human powered. Fifi, AVAM's 13-foot-tall human poodle, will join the lineup at the American Visionary Art Museum.

"Kinetic sculpture racing actually started out in California. It's been traveling across the world. Kinetic sculptures are human-powered so there can't be any motors on them," said Abby Baer. "The best place to see it in the morning is here at AVAM. All the sculptures line up on Covington Street. You can get a look at them. If you want to make sure you see all of them, you need to come in the morning because some of them will not make it even past AVAM."

The contestants travel from Federal Hill to Canton and Patterson Park and back to the museum: 15 miles on land, through mud and over water.

"It was hard. Sometimes we'd fight or argue over something but in the end, it always worked out. We use our teamwork and we get through it," said Jake Quartner.

Fifi is one of 32 entries in this year's race; all of them ready and hoping to go the distance.

"It's an incredible day. Our community comes together around this kinetic sculpture race. It's an amazing opportunity AVAM puts on every year," said Pauline Savage.

This is the 18th annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. It begins at 10 a.m. at the American Visionary Art Museum on Key Highway.