Haunted Kinetic Lab of Horrors Canceled; Kinetic Lab Struggling to Pay Rent

Dear Editor,

This Halloween will fall on a Saturday night and will also be the first Blue Moon (second full moon within the same month) on Halloween since 1944.  The next one is in 2039.  This would have been the perfect setup for the annual “Haunted Kinetic Lab of Horrors”, one of the community’s favorite Halloween events.  Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it will not be happening this year so the Lab is asking the community for help.

Those of you who are fortunate enough to have experienced it in the past know it is an incredibly entertaining and frighteningly funny freak show built and run by the same artists and creative engineers that participate in the annual Kinetic Grand Championship.

The Kinetic Sculpture Lab has been in Arcata since 1992 and has contributed more than 100 memorable entries for the Kinetic Sculpture Race over the years, many of them fan favorites. The Lab is also a hub for racers, both locally and from out of town, offering a place for racers to gather and register before the race.  It is also an excellent place to learn and get ideas for those interested in building an entry. Local vehicle rack company Yakima sponsored the race and the Kinetic Sculpture Lab during the 1990’s.  When Yakima relocated out of the area, a brief sponsorship from Wing Inflatables enabled the Lab to continue for a short time after which we were on our own.  Several creative fundraisers were initiated over the years culminating with our first ‘Haunted Kinetic Lab of Horrors’ 15 years ago.  It has been a huge success enabling the lab to pay its bills and continue serving as the region’s biggest and best Kinetic ‘hub’.

In 2019, PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) shut down the area’s power the Saturday night before Halloween, cancelling the Lab’s biggest night of the season.  This year, COVID-19 is the frightening culprit for putting the kibosh on our fundraiser.  In order to pay our rent, utilities and insurance we need help from the community to continue providing the kinetic expertise, smiles and laughter necessary to support one of the area’s longest standing traditions, the Kinetic Grand Championship. For more than 50 years, the ‘triathlon of the art world’ held in Humboldt  County has brought worldwide recognition and countless tourist dollars to the area. If you would like to help, please make a financial contribution on our Go Fund Me at  https://gf.me/u/y4u95d

Ken Beidleman, June Moxon, Jenny Weiss, Billy pinnix, Lush Newton, Malia Matsumoto, Lucas Thornton, Todd Williamson and

Robert Thoman

3361 Halfway Ave.

McKinleyville, Ca.

707-839-3100