Pittsboro Kinetic Sculpture Parade

FINALLY our Oct 24, 2009 parade on YouTube!

2010-04-04T11:45:00.002-04:00

Yes! After many technical difficulities our Oct. 24, 2009 parade is on YouTube!

View it here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFAroM27lG0&playnext_from=TL&videos=oPxKVx7_jww

2009-12-08T23:11:00.001-05:00

Pittsboro Christmas Parade

2009-12-08T23:00:00.003-05:00

We did it! Our part in the Christmas Parade was awesome! Thanks for all the hard work and dedication!

Halloween Parade

2009-10-31T16:48:00.005-04:00

More Sulptures Joined In The Halloween Parade sponsored by Our Neighborhood School and Pizzeria

We're on YouTube!!!!!!!!!

2009-10-29T15:06:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhyGVwiurlY

Part Two Parade Pictures

2009-10-26T13:06:00.001-04:00

The First Pittsboro Kinetic Sculpture Event a Hit!

2009-10-26T12:46:00.003-04:00

Thanks to all the kids, their parents, the pit crews, photographers, artists, and sponsors for making Pittsboro's First Kinetic Sculpture Event a Success!

Frist Kinetic Sculpture Parades premier Saturday!

2009-10-22T10:57:00.004-04:00

Above: Rachel's "Ducky the Duck"

Below: Bud test driving the "Dragon" before adding the head

The first of THREE Kinetic Sculpture Parades

will premier this Saturday at The Pittsboro Street Fair.

First parade is at 11:15 A.m. and the second at 2 P.M

Both parades will start at the Kiwanis Club Building and make a U turn at at the children's stage

Please come out and support the local kids and your dedicated Powell Place and Pittsboro neighbors:

Bud Rudesill, Janice Escott, and Our Neighborhood School and Pizzeria

You'll be glad you did!
Please scroll down to see our progress!

Count Down---5 days!

2009-10-19T20:22:00.003-04:00

The Dragon, the Bat, and Fritz are near completion. Don't miss the first TWO parades on Saturday at the Pittsboro Street Fair!

Dragon Skeleton

2009-10-14T13:35:00.004-04:00

Three chances to see the finished dragon and the Pittsboro Kinetic Sculpture Parade!

The Pittsboro Kinetic Sculpture Parade will be held on Saturday Oct. 24 at the Pittsboro Fall Festival in downtown Pittsboro at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. AND on Oct. 31 at 2:00 p.m.!

***All children and adults in costume are welcome to participate along with the kinetic sculptures on Halloween afternoon***

The Halloween Parade will start at Our Neighboorhood School and Pizzeria on Thompson Street, turn left onto Masonic to Chatham Mills and return to Our Neighboorhood School.

Everyone is welcome to participate!

The pony is finished!

2009-09-25T18:34:00.002-04:00

Now for the princess' gown!

Duck, duck, and well, duck!

2009-09-24T18:09:00.002-04:00

Three girls put the finishing touches on their kinetic sculptures today! The sculptures will be assembled the day before the parade.

A Princess on a Pony

2009-09-17T12:56:00.003-04:00

The Princess' pony gets a coat of silver!

Girls at Work

2009-09-16T12:20:00.003-04:00

A wooden horse, three girls riding ducks, and a princess riding a pink pony... Use your imagination--they did!

Note to Adults

2009-09-09T13:41:00.002-04:00

The photos below are just a reminder that the kinetic sculpture parades and races are not just for children. Where are the designers, engineers, and mechanics? Please get involved. This is a fun project.

Bud

2009-09-09T13:36:00.000-04:00

YouTube video

2009-09-08T17:38:00.002-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVOjeE3SxG0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fkineticgrandchampionship%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

Check this out for fun!

We're Making Progress!

2009-09-01T22:46:00.005-04:00

Kids Planning and Working 8/28/09

2009-08-31T10:38:00.002-04:00

2009-08-31T08:42:00.002-04:00

Shelia had problems Saturday with loading up more pictures. She'll try again today.

I want to make the point that this isn't just an event for kids. We were hoping some of the local artists who are already involved with building kinetic sculpture would join us and show off their skills. Also, each entry is entitled to have a "pit crew", so for parents who want to accompany their children in the parade, make a costume that fits with the theme of your child's entry and join in.

I'm sorely in need of adult help to get planned sculptures built. I have more projects started than I can effectively help with. Please, this is a community effort--something that can generate some fun without seriously taxing our pocketbooks during these hard times.

Merchants: remember that you can advertise on your sculptures. Show the people of the town and county that you appreciate their business by contributing to this fun project.

Bud

Still Busy!

2009-08-27T14:13:00.003-04:00

Bud is busy with Donna's kids this week at Our Neighborhood School.

Several sculptures are in progress around town and our entry, "Felix" has his head screwed on straight now. We'll be showing him off in Downtown Pittsboro on Frist Sunday, September 6, 2009.

More progress pictures will be posted on Saturday! So, come back then. You can also drop by Our Neighboorhood School to meet Bud, check out the progress or competition, or lend a hand!

Busy, busy, busy

2009-08-03T11:25:00.002-04:00

I'm staying too busy to add to the blog often enough! I have repair work to do on Fritz. He got heavier than I had expected (don't cats tend to do that?). Unfortunately dieting isn't an option with sculpted kitties.

These machines pose new design challenges that I haven't dealt with before. It's a learning experience.

Soren Rademacher is making progress on his sculpture which he intends to enter in the race next spring--so it has to float! We are working hard on trying to get the design right to start with. We don't want it to fail on it's maiden voyage and require major design changes.

Noel Schwarts tells me that some of the kids from the first visit from the home school group are still planning or working on their sculptures. Tatum with a plywood board and skate wheels, Caleb with a 3 wheeled plan and Sean & Ian who spoke about constructing a dragon.

I'm about to start work on one for Donna with the help of some of her "school kids". We have a basic idea and I'm ready to start building the "engine".

Janice Escott is planning on one that she and her grandson, Nick are going to build.

Tami Schwerin (Piedmont Biofuels and The Abundance Foundation) has offered some support. Details as yet to be worked out.

And more. I just can't remember it all and sometime don't get things written down because my hands are greasy, or I just can't keep up with the fantastic response we're getting.

Thank goodness Shelia is trying to keep me up to date on the blog and on my twitter site (I'm too much of a twit to figure this twitter thing out--sorry if it appears I'm ignoring people on Twitter. I'll get it figured out eventually.

Bud

Fritz Goes To Town

2009-08-02T16:18:00.005-04:00

Fritz, our Kinetic Sculpture, took a spin today

at First Sunday in downtown Pittsboro

We have some kinetic and artistic kinks to work out, but he is a work in progress!

GET INVOLVED! JOIN THE FUN!

Third Week of July

2009-07-18T09:23:00.001-04:00

It was an exciting week. Shelia and I began the sculpting of a cat who will be the passenger on our sculpture. Minor miscalculations resulted in the need for major surgery to get his head in the right position and moving in coordination with his paw, but he came through like a trouper.

Some home school kids and some of their mothers showed up on Thursday and breathed some new excitement into the project. It appears that at least three new sculptures are underway. Bravo to those who would rather build fantasies than watch the fantasies others have created for TV or a game monitor.

As we searched through the bikes we have we discovered that few have chains that aren’t too rusty to be used. It also appears that several of the bikes have defective bearings in the pedals. So, we need more working bikes for the increasing number of vehicles that are being planned—or any sort of light weight, sturdy wheels, chains, belts, and axels (from wagons, junked lawn mowers, farm equipment, whatever).

We also need an assortment of nuts, bolts, washers, steel (rods, pipe, angle, and every other shape and size). We’ve been promised a supply of PVC pipe, but more may be needed. Any light weight but strong sheathing that can be used to create dragons, toads, taxies, and flying pizzas would be helpful (aluminum or steel sheets, wood veneer, fiberglass sheets, etc.).

The small tarp that was providing shelter from sun and rain blew apart in the wind on Friday, so we’re in need of a replacement tarp or a more permanent shelter like aluminum roofing or…well come on down and give us some ideas as to how we can give these kids better protection from the weather.

Kids At Work

2009-07-17T12:15:00.008-04:00

Imaginations ran wild yesterday at Our Neighborhood School Yard as kids began working on their Kinetic Sculptures

A Note From Donna

2009-07-07T21:02:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone had a festive and happy 4th of July. We had a wonderful week off and I am ready to dive back into summer camps while getting prepared to start another school year.

The menu hasn't changed much and I'm going to try to keep it simple for the rest of the summer. There is so much going on but I feel confident that the September menu will give you many new choices. Thank you so much for your continued support.

**Kinetic Sculpture --- WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT???...well it's a sculpture and it moves! You have to either push it, pull it or pedal it!!! Pretty simple really but there is going to be a parade for Kinetic Sculptures right here in Pittsboro on Saturday, October 31st so if you want to make one, ya better get started.

How do you make a kinetic sculpture you ask? Well, Bud Rudesill a retired engineer and artist, hangs out here at Our Neighborhood School every day between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. and will continue to do so at least until the parade. Your child can stop by anytime, during those hours, FREE of charge, and Bud will help him make a sculpture. Once school starts kids can even stop here and work on their sculpture after school. Bud has already collected tons of bicycle parts, roller blade parts and skateboard parts and has set himself up a workshop in the side yard of Our Neighborhood School. Dias Auto Sales and Ed's Autobody have generously donated their welding skills whenever those are needed for a sculpture, so get your Boyscout group together, your Girlscout group gathered up, your Kiwanis Club members moving or any other group or individual and come on down. Dig out those old bicycle parts and grab some plywood that's lying around the garage. This is going to be a blast. If you want more information you can e-mail bud at budrudesill@aol.com or come on down to Our Neighborhood School and just start building.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you soon.

Donna

Donna Bianco
Our Neighborhood School, Inc.
87 Thompson Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312

919-545-0900 Pizzeria
919-545-0920 School/Fax

The Countdown has begun!

2009-07-05T16:42:00.004-04:00

The Pittsboro Kinetic Sculpture Parade and Race

Concept:
All constructs should be a combination of innovative and artistically designed, mobile devices that transport one or more people. They must be pushed, pulled, or peddled. No motorized elements are allowed.The sculptures may be designed and built by a single individual or a group of people of any size.

The Parade:
The parade will be held on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2009, in the afternoon.
The headquarters for the Parade is Our Neighborhood School and Pizzeria. Some of the sculptures will be built there. The space it primarily intended for special needs kids and kids who don’t have financial backing. However we welcome anyone to build their sculptures there who will also be willing to help others that need it.

The Race:

The race will be held on Memorial Day, 2010. Headquarters for the Kinetic Sculpture Race, is the Unity Books and Stuff.

It's Time to get started!

For more info contact: budrudesill@aol.com

IF YOU BUILD IT….

2009-06-27T16:40:00.002-04:00

IF YOU BUILD IT….

“My wife and I drive to Eureka every year for the event from Southern California. Good luck with your parade. The world needs more Kinetic Parades.

Jim Cole
Norco, Ca”

Last week I found Jim’s photos on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/socal_jim/3558828280/in/photostream/
and emailed him for permission to use some of his wonderful photography on this site. He responded almost immediately with the affirmative. Which is the same response we’ve gotten from everyone we’ve spoken to about our Pittsboro parade.

Norco, CA. I didn’t have a clue where that was, so I looked it up. I’d known that fans of the race in Eureka came from far-and-wide, but I was overwhelmed at the distance Jim Cole and his wife travel (EVERY YEAR) to attend the original Kinetic Sculpture Race in Eureka, CA. Five-hundred and ninety (590) miles, ONE-WAY. I’m certain there are many more like the Coles.

Just think about what a three-day Kinetic Sculpture Race can do for our community. People will come from far-and-wide. They’ll stay in our bed-and-breakfasts, motels and campgrounds, eat in our restaurants, purchase groceries and gasoline and stop at a drugstore for Tylenol, or sunscreen. They’ll drink coffee in our coffee shops and buy art and antiques on Hillsboro Street. Maybe they’ll get a haircut or a massage or see a chiropractor, doctor, or dentist. Pittsboro and the surrounding area will prosper from the thrill seekers who’ll visit “our” Kinetic Sculpture Race!

This is the dream, Pittsboro! With your support and enthusiasm a full-fledged Kinetic Sculpture Race is possible in 2010.

So, we’re starting small with our Halloween Parade. Everyone can participate: individuals, families, neighborhoods, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Girl and Boy Scouts, churches, and schools. So, come on and start building!

A friend said something to the effect of, “Everyone will appreciate the brightness and joy that putting this event together will bring into the lives of the people of Pittsboro.”

So, let’s build IT together!

What is it?

2009-06-25T15:47:00.000-04:00

Kinetic sculpture parades and races are composed of vehicles that are pushed, pulled, or peddled. We are involved in creating the first kinetic sculpture parade in Pittsboro. In fact, it may be the first kinetic sculpture parade ever. We have received the support of the town council and are presently working with the town manager to finalize the plans for the parade to be held in the afternoon of Oct. 31.

We are especially encouraging the involvement of children and young adults. We are offering help to special needs and financially disadvantaged children at The Neighborhood School and Pizzeria every weekday from three to six p.m. However, there is no age limit, bottom or top, for entry. We encourage younger children to enlist the help of their parents or adult friends for help in building their mobile dreams, and adults who can work with their children and others.

The Neighborhood School and Pizzeria is the headquarters for the parade and a source for information and ideas. We need donations of bikes, bike parts, and any wheels with axles, and many other parts and tools. Please let us know if you can donate such parts and tools. We also need adult supervisors at The Neighborhood School and Pizzeria, and other venues where children can be helped to create their dream machines. The primary contact is budrudesill@aol.com

We also need people to help us establish our organization, promote us, and help in many other ways.

This project has a "big brother" project which will be a Kinetic Sculpture Race. The headquarters for this project is Unity Books and Stuff. We expect the race to bring several million dollars into the community every year. The contact for more information on that project is the same as above, budrudesill@aol.com