The Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade and 7 Great Reasons to Roll
Key West Art & Historical Society invites artists, builders and assemblers to put their creative and engineering genius on display for the Second Annual Papio Kinetic Sculpture and Art Bike Parade, set for Saturday, May 6th, with additional festivities on Friday and Sunday. Here are 7 great reasons you should roll yourselves there!
- IT’S FAMILY FRIENDLY, art-inspired, human-powered fun! Think art with parts that move.
- YOU CAN PUT SOME FUNK INTO YOUR JUNK. Excellent excuse for dumpster diving adventures and recycling your Fantasy Fest costumes and accouterments is just plain brilliant.
- A CHANCE TO FLAUNT YOUR OWN REBEL SPIRIT! No need to be the next Stanley Papio or Theo Jansen to make your own Kinetic Art Sculpture Float or Art Bike—some creative inclination mixed with a dash of kinetic savvy will do. The only requirement is that they are physically moved by you (and/or a teammate(s)).
- YOUR CONCH CRUISER COULD USE SOME LOVE. Dress up the wheels you’ve got, register your Art Bike and call yourself parade-ready!
- YET ANOTHER REASON TO WEAR A TUTU! And where else are you going to wear that hat?
- YOU CAN REWARD YOUR RECYCLING INGENUITY WITH BEER….just like Stanley Papio!
- IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER! $25 for Kinetic Sculpture Teams; $15 for Art Bikes; no charge for KWAHS members (all details, inspiration and ideas at papiokineticparade.com).
Want the low-down on the roll-down?
Friday, May 5 – Parade Warm-up
- 6:00PM – Custom House Museum: KWAHS Distinguished Speaker Series guest kinetic expert Frank Conlan will discuss His Crazy World of Kinetic Sculpture Races. The lecture is followed by champagne reception on the porch of the Custom House. Seats are limited. Register for this free presentation now! kwahs.org/education/distinguished_speaker_series).
Saturday, May 6 – Parade Day
- 9:00AM-12:00PM – Parade line-up
- 10:00AM-12:00PM – Pre-parade workshop and group entry registration with Bria Ansara for children aged 6-12
- 12:00PM-1:00PM – Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade kicks off in front of Custom House and proceeds down Duval Street to the Southernmost Beach Café
- 1:00PM-3:00PM – Free beach party and awards ceremony at Southernmost Beach Café featuring a special live performance by the Legendary JC’s
Sunday, May 7– It’s All About the Kid9
- 11:30AM-3:30PM – Papio Picnic & Kinetic Kids Day at Fort East Martello
- 12:00PM – Free Papio exhibit tour at Fort East Martello Museum, with all-day free admission to the Museum.
Who is Stanley Papio you ask? That would be the late Key Largo folk artist Stanley Papio, rebellious welder-turned artist who explored recycled materials long before it was hip to be rusty. Papio transformed his collected metal— old cars, washing machines and other metal appliances piled high in his yard — into extraordinary pieces of art, many of them offering comical and caustic commentary on neighbors and naysayers.
While none of Papio’s sculptures were made to be mobile, the parade is a nod to both his legacy and collection of work— more than 100 sculptural objects and three-dimensional constructions housed in a permanent exhibit at Fort East Martello.
For Parade registration information, event schedule, and entry guidelines, visit www.papiokineticparade.com. The Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of the Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida. Additional support provided by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Historic Tours of America, Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina and Southernmost Beach Café. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.