Wind Turbine art project

Published: 19 March 2010

You are invited to attend the launch of the ACTIVE ENERGY wind turbine

The Geezer Club at Age Concern and Bow Boys School have been working with an artist, engineer and ex-rocket scientist to see if they can provide alternative means of energy production.

Together they have designed a wind turbine to power a temporary lightwork and this will be installed on the roof of Age Concern at Appian Court to provide a visible DIY message to Bow about renewable energy.

Tuesday 23rd March 2010, 1pm to 1.45pm

Appian Court, Parnell Road, Bow, E3 2RS (top of Roman Road, opposite Bow Fire Station)

Light lunch provided

RSVP Fiona Fieber, SPACE

Information

Students at Bow Boys Secondary School have been working alongside a group of senior men from Tower Hamlets, The Geezer Club. With artist Loraine Leeson, engineer Toby Borland and Professor Steven Dodds at University of East London, they have created designs for wind and water turbines. Small scale working prototypes were developed under expert guidance and the most successful design has been selected to drive a temporary public lightwork. The art and engineering project aims to draw attention to potential applications of renewable energy sources.

The older people are now developing ideas they have for a water turbine. Using facilities at University of East London’s MAGICbox prototyping laboratory, they will harness the tidal power of the Thames to drive a second temporary lightwork.

In addition to its technological and artistic outputs, Active Energy takes an intergenerational approach to some key issues facing local communities in one of London’s poorest boroughs.

Underachievement amongst boys has been addressed in two ways that would not otherwise be on offer through the school curriculum. Participating young people were mentored by senior men from their own community who were keen for their voices to be heard on issues that mattered to them, using their lifetime experiences to feed back into society. At the same time master classes, providing inspiration and fostering skills, creativity and innovation were held at the university with one of the country’s leading control engineers and an artist.

Renewable energy is often seen as the remit of statutory institutions or those wealthy enough to afford the significant cost of the equipment involved. However, there is growing interest in the technologies involved amongst ordinary people living in East London. In focusing public attention on these issues, Active Energy aims to address local authorities and housing developers to encourage greater incorporation of renewable energy into residential accommodation in this area.

Loraine Leeson

Loraine Leeson’s practice since the late 1970s has centred on the exploration of art as a catalyst for social change. This has involved engagement with local communities and young people, trades unions, tenants and action groups, around issues of regeneration and identity. Her projects intervene in the public domain using forms that over the years have ranged from posters to photo-murals, events, public art and interactive web sites. http://www.cspace.org.uk/

Active Energy is funded by:

Arts Council, England, Leaside Regeneration Ltd, Action for Bow, The Woodlands Trust

With the kind support of:

University of East London SMARTlab and MAGICbox, Gateway Housing Association, Age Concern Tower Hamlets, Environmental Sustainability Team, LBTH

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