Fun in the Mud and Photos under the Highway

The day started out overcast with rain on Saturday in Baltimore for the American Visionary Art Museum's 11th annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. The rain eventually stopped, the overcast skies kept it cool and provided a perfect light for taking pictures, as the the crazy, wacky, 33 human-powered sculptures made their way around Inner Harbor.

There were the regulars -- Fifi, Bumpo, Platypus, the Rat -- plus some new and some annual reconfigurations; plenty of entertainment from the crews, and enough encouraging smiles from the spectators to keep the ol' swine plague at bay.

From the plunge into the Baltimore harbor for the water loop challenge or this year's harrowing mud pit from hell, it was a great day in Baltimore! More pictures of the race here and full coverage of race results at Kinetic Baltimore.


On Sunday I braved torrential rains, fog, and 18-wheelers to get to Zoe Strauss's annual exhibit of her photos titled Under 95, and it is literally posted to the cement pilings under the I-95 overpass in downtown Philly -- one of the coolest exhibits under a major East Coast thoroughfare ever!

Z. Strauss, America

Zoe is a sweetheart. As I've mentioned here many times her photos can be difficult, images of people and places we'd often over look -- intentionally. She shoots away with a true understanding and love of her subjects, and we're all the better for it.

Nothing will ever compare to a photo exhibit with torrents of rain water pouring from broken downspouts, stuffed with beer cans and I fear what else. The rain added a patina to the event. Look for my Under 95 images here or order her new book America, which I finally got autographed.