Photos: Sculptures get an 'Extreme Makeover'
Kinetic sculptures built in Arcata, Calif., look like something Picasso might have dreamed up.
Extreme Makeover
Duane Flatmo's "Extreme Makeover" is a kinetic sculpture he and several teammates built in the Arcata Kinetic Lab in the coastal college town of Arcata, Calif.
Full side view
A full side view of the Picasso-esque "Extreme Makeover."
Surf 'n' Turf
Flatmo's "Surf 'n' Turf," another kinetic sculpture in the Arcata Kinetic Lab in Arcata, on June 15, 2006.
Pontoon
Flatmo is one of the pre-eminent practitioners of kinetic sculpture racing, a pastime that started informally in Arcata in 1969 and now is celebrated with a giant three-day event involving dozens of entrants each Memorial Day weekend.
Grand-prize trophy
Flatmo shows off a grand-prize trophy from a previous Kinetic Sculpture Race in Arcata.
Looking out
Riding "Extreme Makeover" means being inside the giant abstact head and looking out through its gnarled teeth.
Engineering
Flatmo points to the complex engineering of a kinetic sculpture in Arcata, Calif.
Front view
"Extreme Makeover" looks like something Picasso would have designed if he'd been tasked with creating a human-powered ride for four people.
Flato riding
Flatmo rides one of his "spinner" bikes, which can dart around deftly and turn on a dime.
Machines fill lab
The Arcata Kinetic Lab is filled to the rafters with machines from years past. This dragon is one of the most beautiful.