About

SAVE THE DATE FOR MAY 22nd 2010!
About

A Kinetic Sculpture is a human-powered vehicle that also has an artistic theme. Think of parade floats on bicycles, or mummers on hand crank driven pirate ships, or an alien space ship on 2 welded togther bikes, it's zombie amish folks, it's a bar and bar stools on a bike, it's anything you can dream up. A Kinetic Sculpture Competition is all about fun and ingenuity, making the wackiest, most interesting contraption is the goal- finishing the course or winning is not.  Kinetic Sculpture Competitions have been taking place all over the world since 1969 when a California artist named Hobart Brown made some artistic improvements to his son's tricycle.


The KKSD is not a race, but rather a design competition and parade celebrating human powered transit and art in Kensington. Award Categories include- Best Art, Best Costume, Best Engineering, People's Choice, Best Breakdown and a special secret judge award. People get to vote for their favorite entry at the event, so come to the fest and VOTE!

What is a Kinetic Sculpture? Click for Wiki article

The KKSD, a design competition and parade of human powered vehicle floats, was started in 2007 as an Economic Development Initiative of the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) with the East Kensington Neighbors Association's Trenton Avenue Arts Festival. New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the East Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Our mission is strengthening the physical, social, and economic fabric of the community by being a catalyst for sustainable development and
community building.

Check out this awesome video by Andrew David Watson!





On May 19th 2007, the first ever Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby went off with out a hitch with 10 entires. The cooperation with the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival was great bringing in over 2000 people combined through out the day. In 2008, over 4000 people attended both festivities, and 2009' captured close to 6000 souls with over 20 entries! The Trenton Avenue Arts Festival is a day long craft and arts fair with live music, local vendors, and local food and beverages. The two events compleiment each other beautifully, both events celebrate Kensington, art and sustainibility.

The Trenton Ave Arts Festival is a project of The East Kensington Neighbors Association (EKNA). EKNA is an all volunteer run resident group seeking to create a forum for neighbors to meet and take action on improving their neighborhood.  FOR MORE INFORMATION on the TRENTON AVENUE ARTS FESTIVAL go to www.ekna.org


View the YOU TUBE Video by Daniel Kent
 




Frequently Asked Questions are here.

Please see these websites to get some history on the beginning of Kinetic Sculpture Racing.