Sierra Nevada Airstreams: Community

Official Hobart Brown Commemorative Webpage

Whereas Hobart Brown was one of the most prominent citizens of the City of Ferndale, brought to Humboldt County by the efforts of Viola Russ McBride, descendant of one of the first residents of the City of Ferndale, and other luminaries for the express purpose of turning around an ailing Main Street, and

Whereas, under the guidance of Viola and other local artists, Hobart rescued 27 stores from vacancy by arranging with their owners to display art on their empty walls, and paying for 27 advertisements in the Yellow Pages for their listings as art galleries, and

Whereas, due to the efforts of Viola Russ McBride and Hobart Brown, the Old Catholic Rectory building was saved not only from demolition but was moved from its former location next to Assumption Church to its present location, 563 Ocean Avenue, restored and renovated to where it became the first building in the City of Ferndale to earn a place on the U.S. National Historic register of notable buildings,

Whereas, Hobart arranged with the U.S Coast Guard to provide men, rope, ladders, and paint to redecorate the facades of all the Main Street stores with a color palette selected by Viola and other local artists, and

Whereas, Hobart assisted in the organization of the first Art Weeks in Ferndale, and

Whereas, due to his efforts creating the unique red "Pentacycle" and being challenged by Jack Mays to a race down Main Street on Mother's Day weekend, 1969 Hobart has ever after been accorded the title the "Glorious Founder of the Kinetic Sculpture Race," and

Whereas, Kinetic Sculpture Racing has grown to a world-wide hobby with races on three continents over the past forty years, and

Whereas, the original Kinetic Races proceeded down Main Street every year until 1975, and since then the City of Ferndale has always been the traditional and glorious finish line for the three day, forty mile, cross-country "triathlon of the art world," and

Whereas, during his entire residence in Ferndale, Hobart's flair and showmanship have served to promote the city of Ferndale through press, media, book, and movie coverage of Ferndale including:

* "It Will Have Blinking Eyes" an award-winning documentary about the Kinetic Sculpture Race by China Blue films shown at the Sundance Film Festival;

* "Hobart and the Race of the Kinetinauts" a film by Christian Hellmers shown on PBS;

* Weird Wheels and Wacky Houses produced by Canadian public television,

* "Good Morning America (NBC)," as well as CBS, ABC, NBC, Disney and Nickelodeon in the U.S., CHINA-TV and Japanese Home Television, Australian Broadcasting Company and ITV1 overseas,

* "Hobart Tells All" and "Crazy Contraptions," two published guides to kinetic sculpture racing, and

* Magazine and newspaper notices include: National Geographic World, Popular Mechanics, San Francisco Chronicle, Smithsonian Magazine (Summer 1979), The Times of London, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Melbourn Australia Age, Perth Australia Time. And

Whereas, his amazing artistic abilities were recognized all over the world, including his works being shown in the White House and Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.; the Ronald Reagan Museum; LA City Museum; Palm Springs Museum; Leeuwin Estates, Australia; and the Oscar Meyer Museum. He created the Republican Party Perpetual trophy on commission from the party. Other collectors of his work include President Ronald Reagan, Entertainer Johnny Carson, Congressman Don Clausen, U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, Riverboat Casino Las Vegas, CalTrans, the College of the Redwoods, and more than 500 other individuals and companies. And

Whereas, his nomination by a Humboldt State University professor to be a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, in recognition for his creation of joyful events in the fabric of our community, and

Whereas, his shining spirit and living personification of his motto, "Adults having fun so kids want to grow older" has been an inspiration for everyone who ever met him, or saw his artworks or a kinetic race, and

Whereas, during this entire time, putting his money where his heart was, he has maintained his gallery - open 365 days a year, his residence and museum at 393 Main Street which has over the years showcased the works of 150 local artists, and until 2002 he owned and maintained the Kinetic Sculpture Museum and the other end of Main Street, currently the Ferndale Arts and Community Center. And

Whereas, he has raised his children in Ferndale, provided an open door and open heart to all immigrants to town who followed, supported the arts tirelessly until old age and increasing debility forced his retirement, and

Whereas, in retirement he contributed to and helped create "The Kinetic Universe" which shall continue his racing legacy here in the City of Ferndale, and

Whereas in 2008 there shall be two Kinetic Events in Ferndale:

* On Mother's Day, May 11, 2008, the "Kinetic Klassic," a whimsical romp of human-powered, home made kinetic contraptions down the original three block course, and

* On Memorial Day Weekend, May 24, 25, and 26, 2008 Ferndale will once again be the traditional terminus of the 3-day cross country Kinetic Grand Championship creating great glory for all racers and a wonderful time for residents and visitors alike,

Therefore, we proclaim the month of May 2008 "Hobart Brown Month in Ferndale," with all the attendant glory and honor due one of the great immigrant contributors to the history of the City of Ferndale, California.

--

Love and Peace and Kinetics,

Queen Shaye

President, KineticUniverse.com

www.kineticgrandchampionship.com

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