Hobart Brown,
Glorious Founder of the Kinetic Sculpture race
, died of pneumonia last night at Redwood Memorial Hospital. He was 73.
UPDATE:
Here’s a beautifully written, three-page press release from
Kinetic Universe
, the organization that put on the race last year.
Hobart Brown was born in Hess, Oklahoma to a fifteen-year-old mother who migrated across country to California on the back of her husband’s motorcycle. Hobart described it as his classic Okie experience, mirroring the great migration so poignantly captured in John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath,” and other stories of the Dust Bowl years.
Update #2: details on
Hobart Brown’s Eclectic “Celebration of Life”
this from the folks at Kinetic Universe:
The eclectic “Celebration of Life” for local artist and Glorious Founder of the Kinetic Sculpture Race, Hobart Brown, is scheduled to take place Saturday, November 17, 2007 at the Ferndale Pavilion starting at 5:17pm. The opening ceremony will be overseen by Hobart’s longtime friend, Nancy Courtemanche, and will allow attendees to share their most memorable stories about their experiences with him. In accordance with Hobart’s wishes that his death not be mourned, this ceremony will be a celebration of his life and spirit, a very colorful affair not for the faint of heart.
The public sharing session will end at 7:17 p.m. when all attendees are asked to participate in a silent candlelit procession down Main Street to Hobart Galleries. There, where a short ceremony will take place, all can leave a memento, keepsake, poem, picture or piece of art dedicated to Hobart at the shrine that has begun in front of the Gallery at 393 Main Street. If a memento is left, please be sure to mark it with your contact information, especially any photographs, poems, or artwork so proper credit can be given if used for publication. Once the ceremony is over and the candles have been extinguished, a New Orleans Mardi Gras style parade will lead all back to the Ferndale Pavilion to continue the festive celebration of his life.
“We would like people to know that in the beginning of our time together, we will truly be paying respect to Hobart and his family. As the evening progresses, the flavor of the event will become more lively in keeping with the tradition of the Kinetic Sculpture Race and Hobart’s fun-loving nature,” said Nancy Courtemanche, the person who will be presiding over the celebration.
All attendees are asked to dress in costume or full Kinetic regalia to honor the fun-loving nature of the race and its Glorious Founder. For the silent candlelit procession, participants are required to bring their own candles and are optionally urged to don black capes and top hats to pay homage to Hobart’s trademark style. After the somber procession and ceremony ends, the parade portion of the march begins with the capes coming off and the costumes come out! The Royal Kinetic Madness band will be there to provide the marching music to dance back up the hall to continue the party on into the evening.
Any flowers purchased for the celebration are best obtained from Village Florist located next door to the gallery and in true kinetic fashion, will be delivered there using human-power. Contributions of large portions of Hobart’s favorite dishes: Beef Stew, Scalloped Potatoes, and Banana Cream Pudding with Vanilla Wafers to share with all are greatly appreciated. Artwork in his honor is also welcomed to decorate the hall for the celebration but must only be posted on the walls using plastic headed push-pins. Please come early at 4 p.m. if you would like to help decorate and even more volunteers are needed for clean up and break down afterwards.
Contributions to the Hobart Brown Memorial Fund can be made in his honor to: North Valley Bank, 394 Main Street, Ferndale, CA 95536.
Any other branch of North Valley Bank can also accept funds for this cause as long as it is designated to the “Hobart Brown Memorial Fund.” Proceeds from this fund will assist his family in their time of need.
If you would like to contribute further to the celebration, please contact Shaye Harty at 707-499-0643 or rutabagaqueen@gmail.com to see the many ways that you can help make this event very special to Hobart and his surviving family. Please note that this event is strictly a B.Y.O.A.B.C., as in Bring-your-own-appetizers (to share with others), beverages (to drink if you so chose), and candles (to hold for the procession). The Ferndale Pavilion is also locally known as Fireman’s Hall and is located at 100 S. Berding St. in Ferndale, CA, 95536. For Hobart and For the Glory!
# # #
Kinetic Universe, Inc. was founded 2007 to administer the Kinetic Grand Championship Kinetic Sculpture Race from Arcata to Ferndale, California. Websites:
http://KineticUniverse.com
http://www.KineticGrandChampionship.com
http://KineticKingdom.com
Biographical Information on Hobart:
Photo at top by Ellin Beltz – more
photos by Ellin
Photo below by Bob Doran
This article appears in Everyone Is Connected.
Well, shit.
Oh dear.
I use to play music with his son, Justin.
My condolences to Justin and his siter, Emily.
S’long, Ho.
We didnt always see eye to eye- but he was
a unique character, and will be missed.
Party on Hobart!
A note from Flatmo
Dear friends,
Hobart Brown passed away today…and while I go through moments of grief, I see a person who gave so much of himself to allow others to have fun in life. So much of our lives are filled with the everyday hassles….. bills to pay, work and other responsibilities. Hobart went forward to roll out this giant red carpet, leading to a big stage called “The Kinetic Sculpture Race” for all of us to act out our ideas, fantasies and alter ego’s. A place we could forget all our daily problems and come together as one big family with a common thread. Why did we return every year to do this thing? Hobart always said….” We forget the bad and remember the good” that’s what faith is built on. Hobart will be missed very much! It is up to us to carry on, knowing that a little bit of him is in each one of us and spread the joy that he found and brought to us. My life has been enriched and changed by this man and I’m very happy to say that I knew him and he was my friend.
Hat’s off to Hobart Brown!!!
Kinetically, Duane Flatmo
Hobart’s son, Justin and I played music together in the 1990’s with our duo, Boomer and Brown. In 1997, Justin played the tympani when I directed Requiem by John Rutter.
I have fond memories of Hobart’s Halloween parties. At one party we won the Best Couple Costumes’ Award. We still have our medal made by Hobart.
Once when I was recovering from surgery, Hobart visited me at the hospital. He made my sutures hurt from laughing. I remember having many interesting conversations with Hobart in his home/gallery in Ferndale.
Hobart also attended my 40th birthday party. Hobart’s gift was a jumbo-size package of toilet paper. He claimed it was the only thing he had wrapped, and he knew it would be something I would find useful.
Condolences to Justin, his sister, Emily, brothers, Mark and Michael and all of Hobart’s family. Hobart will be missed.
Geeze, I’m really sorry to hear that Hobart has passed. What a character!
Although I only met him once, his son and I were good (best?) friends in high school (he taught me to play “You Got Another Thing Coming” while we worked late in the highschool darkroom). My wife and I were in Ferndale a few years ago and I HAD to take her by the gallery. She was amazed (as I always was).
My condoleneces to Justin and Emily. My parents have both passed, so I have a small clue what they are going through.
Though now gone, he’s not forgotten……
doug
I am a cousin of hobarts wife, Maggie who I miss deeply of her passing and I am sure sorry to read about Hobart passing on the internet. Justin and Emily I wish you all the best.
I remember Hobart was a great Entertainer when I visit them, he made his guess fill welcome.
Toni in
Las Vegas
Hobart is NOT dead. His spirit lives on in everyone he touched with his zany zest for life. I loved him– I love him still. In 1973 I made a funky little movie called, “The Hobart Concept.” I found the one and only copy of it buried with a pile of stuff in my studio. Just had a DVD made from it and I’m sending it to Justin and Emily at Hobart Galleries. I hope you guys get a kick out of it.
Bob Jacobs in Dahinda, Illinois
thank you all for your kind words
please do NOT send anything to the gallery as someone has illegally taken possession of it and all its contents
I am in a ugly legal battle as we speak over the whole thing
if you would like to contact me my e-mail is justinhobartbrown@msn.com
and my mailing address is P.O. Box 265, Cutten CA 95534
JHB
well, the parasites that were trying to screw dad out of just about everything he had……not an overexageration…..and no, it doesn’t feel good, it definately doesn’t feel right…..but the scantless low-lifes that stole as much of dads estate and anything else they could get their hands on…were almost the owners……..are not the owners…..LOL they forgot the necessary cashier’s check and were quickly out bid…..thank god…
today has been a day of celebration!!
peace and honor to you…..thanks!
justin hobart brown
So sorry to hear about your struggles. To quote Bill Shakespeare, “All’s Well That Ends Well”.
Peace, Justin.
Hi there, i was just re-reading some stuff that i had only glanced at before…..and there are all these names that are important to me, were important to my momma, and my daddy.
A little late I know BUT
Hello To You,
Doug Rollins, yes we were best of friend’s and i think about you and how cool your folks were..and how sweet those darkroom days were…i can still smell the Stop Bath and Fixer, we need a unit……to sample and hold…..ohh dougy. i hope all is well with you and yours…u r a good soul.
Carol—> of Boomer and Brown…….how r u? i just found a big ole stack of photos from the B and B days…………..and box full of requiem tapes…………that was the last time that my momma saw me perform…..and she loved it…
carol, U made me rise to the occasion…and with not 2 but 4 timpani drums, about 14 pencils worth of my notes ground into the rented sheet music and your awesome cues, i ended up looking respectable, we rocked the house…twice!!! and i was proud of us…that was a wonderful thing that was. i hope u r in a very happy place.
and i hope u somehow read this…
hello Toni—my cuz from vegas….you’re family and i know this because mom and grandma used to speak highly of u…..how r u, good i hope.
I still have a little series of pictures of you and me? in a photo booth. if u get this, please write me back…………..until then……!
jhb
hey bob jacobs………….i don’t exactly remember u but i know that u were one of dad’s cherished friends……….one of his laughing buddies….from the early days. it was good to hear from u……….get in touch if and when u read this…….
hey there duane, thank u for writing as well….
see, it only took me a little more than a year to respond…….that’s about two times faster than ever before………..for me…
i am hoping that any of u read this article again…….a year and three months later.
if u do, please get ahold of me.
sincerely,
justin hobart brown
if you would like to contact me my e-mail is justinhobartbrown@msn.com
and my mailing address is P.O. Box 265, Cutten CA 95534
aw-stu-la-veesta