| Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race 2008 Race Report: Wilma & the WOMBATS |
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Wilma & the WOMBATS
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Last year’s 1-seater Blue Wombat returned as the 4-seater Wilma & The WOMBATS (Wayward Outcast Musicians Battling Apocalyptic TribulationS). Here it’s being towed by the PLATYPUS out of the water. Wilma has the transmission from a Toyota MR2, with 2-wheel drive. Wilma and the PLATYPUS are the work of Kinetic Genius David Hess of Phoenix, Maryland. | |
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Sculptures have often played music during the race—but using recordings and a stereo. Wilma’s WOMBATS, however, are a seriously good band that played New Orleans jazz as they drove the sculpture. The lead WOMBAT was Aric Wanveer on the trombone. | |
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With thousands of witnesses, the world’s first human-propelled blue wombat New Orleans jazz band made its amphibious debut with a high-velocity plunge into the Baltimore Harbor. If there were any more creativity squeezed into one instant, it would collapse into a singularity. They paused the music long enough to brace themselves while accelerating into the water. They struck the harbor with such force that the two 55-gallon empty plastic drums on the front of the sculpture were completely submerged. Their crowd-pleasing Dixieland sound surged back once they were cruising on the water. The WOMBATS were a huge hit, a fabulous advance in the Multisensory Kinetic Arts. They easily won the People’s Choice award, for the people are wise. | |
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Their pit crew were Hereford High School students costumed as Australian animals. Wilma is more sculpted than most entries. The dramatic stance, muscle tone, and posture give Wilma a great deal of exciting character.
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