Alex Nathanson is a multimedia artist, designer, technologist, and educator. His work is primarily focused on exploring both the experimental and practical applications of sustainable energy technologies, particularly photovoltaic solar power. His work has been featured at Issue Project Room, the Museum of the Moving Image, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Aros Aarhus Art Museum, and the Art Prospect Festival. He was one of the long-term artists in residence at Flux Factory from 2012 to 2016, and his multi-media performance group Fan Letters was awarded multiple residencies at The Watermill Center. Solar Protocol, a collaboration with Tega Brain and Benedetta Piantella, has been awarded fellowships from Eyebeam and Code for Science and Society.

Nathanson is the founder and lead designer of Solar Power for Artists, a design studio and education platform focused on making sustainable energy accessible, tactile, and understandable. As a solar power designer, he has created interactive and educational projects for The Climate Museum, Peabody Essex Museum, Solar One, and the NYC Department of Education, among others. Most recently, his book A History of Solar Power Art and Design was published by Routledge.
Session
Solar Power for Artists

This talk will focus on the opportunities and challenges for creative expression with photovoltaic solar power. I’ll be discussing the history of this field and the various conceptual approaches that artists and designers have explored, which I documented in my recent book A History of Solar Power Art and Design. I’ll also be talking about the role of art and design in making the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy more accessible and equitable.

Workshop
WORKSHOP: DIY Solar Panel Design

TUESDAY, JUNE 14th • 9:00AM • WALKER ART CENTER



This workshop will give participants insight into the possibilities and challenges for electronic art in the context of the climate crisis.



OVERVIEW

This hands-on workshop will introduce participants to creating solar powered electronic art. Over the course of this workshop, we will cover basic electronic knowledge, methods for upcycling solar cells, off-grid solar circuit design, and ways to incorporate photovoltaic solar power into kinetic, sound, and light art. We will also explore a variety of techniques for working with photovoltaic cells as sculptural material. Participants will build a solar powered art piece and have new insight into the challenges and possibilities of incorporating alternative energy into our daily lives through both practical and experimental uses.



SKILL LEVEL: Intro



WORKSHOP OUTLINE:
- Intro to creative applications of photovoltaic solar power
- Intro to soldering solar cells and building small kinetic solar bots.
- Design and build sound based solar powered artwork.


WHAT TO BRING:
• Pens/pencils & paper

• Bringing a computer may be helpful if you want to look at some of the additional web-based resources that be mentioned in the workshop.



SOFTWARE TO HAVE INSTALLED:
• None



REGISTRATION FEE: $329
MATERIALS FEE: $45