Music, art and power tools -- Artopia brings them together

Tag : power tool part

In a photo finish, the sander won, barreling into a pile of rainbowbeach balls to cushion the crash.
This was the scene at the third annual power tool race atGeorgetown's Artopia, where contestants tricked out old power toolswith wheels and other homemade materials to transform them intoracers.
Rusty Oliver, proprietor of Hazard Factory, the industrial artsstudio that hosts the event, said it's some people's favorite partof Artopia.
"It's just hysterical," he said. "It's a form of injure-tainment.It's a complete misuse of technology and repurposing industrialtools for fun."
Last year Hazard Factory awarded six racers with trophies,including one for Miss Congeniality.
But it doesn't end with racing. Afterwards, some of the tricked-outtools battle one another in a fight to the death.
Lloyd Weatherford's dueling grinders racer finished last in thesecond heat of the race. He said there are still some adjustmentshe could make to the two grinders welded to a pair of roller skatewheels.
"It works great on the first run, but then the blades get dull," hesaid. "It's just a fun hobby. I spent about two weeks on this one."
Behind all the clashing metal, Artopia is considered afamily-friendly event, said Rebecca Bolte, one of the organizers.
Although this year's event was much bigger than last, an estimated10,000 people, Bolte said she tried to keep it "as real aspossible."
There are no vendors who don't live or work in Georgetown, there isno commercialism and the entertainment is free.
"This year was bigger, better, faster, but still completely local,"Bolte said.
The feel was that of an old-timey carnival, with a milk bottletoss, ring toss, sno-cones, cotton candy and even a troupe ofjunior circus performers.
Electra Scott, 15, a member of Georgetown's School of Acrobaticsand New Circus Arts, performs aerial acrobatics and was one ofseven members of the youth troupe to perform at Artopia.
She performed a contortion act and jump rope tricks for thefestival.
"I've been practicing for a few months for these acts and we'refinally settling into a routine," Scott said.
Standing in line at the fishing hole game, Iris Beatondoyle, 8,said she was having fun, then listed the prizes she won for theday: plastic rats, rubber duckies and a stuffed animal --everything a kid could want.
"It's really fun," she said. "But, my favorite is still the powertools."
Her mother, Mary Jane Beatondoyle, said she loves celebratingArtopia because Georgetown is "the one great spot left in Seattle."
"It's just a great way to celebrate the arts community," she said.