Justincarter.info/blog

Recent Drawings

2011-09-12T06:42:00.000-07:00

'Fault Lines' series. Pen & Ink on Paper. 210 x 150mm.

I have been making some process-based drawings recently which began from the idea of trying (and failing) to draw perfectly straight lines. The results seem to be suggestive of landscape and geology.

furniture with a difference

2011-03-23T08:42:00.004-07:00

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/855415-designers-create-furniture-that-eats-mice-for-energy

Incinerator to heat leisure centre

2011-02-08T12:51:00.002-08:00

From the Coventry Telegraph (5/1/11):
"UNDERGROUND pipes could see Coventry’s city centre buildings heated by the Whitley incinerator.

The city council is planning to use warmth that is currently wasted at the plant off London Road to heat the Council House, Coventry Sports Centre, Coventry University and Coventry Cathedral.

The scheme could then be extended to heat homes at the Friargate development next to the railway station and the city centre masterplan.

A report to the city council’s cabinet claims that the new district heating system, when expanded to its maximum reach, could cut the council’s carbon footprint by a whopping 40 per cent.

It estimates the council could save £85,000 a year on its energy bills while simultaneously avoiding carbon taxes and generating income by selling heat supplies".

Read More http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2011/01/05/whitley-incinerator-to-heat-coventry-city-centre-buildings-92746-27936441/#ixzz1DP1OUPEA

2010-10-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

Bunting fabricated from discarded umbrellas

tree meets fence

2010-10-06T03:55:00.000-07:00

Images from Grand Union

2010-08-17T09:08:00.000-07:00

Exhibition at Grand Union

2010-08-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

2010-07-24T02:03:00.000-07:00

‘Exhibition Making in a time of Climate Change'. Visual Arts and Galleries Association (VAGA) and Engage Scotland

2010-01-02T04:45:00.000-08:00

‘Exhibition Making in a time of Climate Change'. Visual Arts and Galleries Association (VAGA) and Engage Scotland workshop at the Edinburgh International Art Festival.

Project Pigeon - Pictorial:an exhibition of artwork carried by pigeon (organised by Alex Lockett & Ian England)

2010-01-02T04:34:00.000-08:00

(Images courtesy Alex Lockett & Ian England)

A Portable Garden by Justin Carter (seeds carried by pigeon)

International Conference on Human Ecology, Manchester (2009) and seminar 'How can artists lead social change for climate change?' at Delta Arts (2009)

2010-01-02T04:28:00.001-08:00

Exhibition 'Where Tomorrow Begins'.

2010-01-02T04:23:00.001-08:00

Innovation in Scottish Universities. Work shown at Scottish Parliament and Mitchell Library (touring).

hedge

2010-01-02T04:07:00.000-08:00

Rogaland Kunstsenter Bike Hire

2010-01-02T03:58:00.000-08:00

http://www.rogalandkunstsenter.no/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42494&Itemid=27#

Link to Rogaland Kunstsenters new bike hire scheme

The Bright Sparks Sketchbooks

2008-10-26T05:52:00.000-07:00

The sketchbooks containing most of the Bright Sparks research are organized under the following headings:
THE CITY AS POWER PLANT
ECO CHIP VAN
HUMAN POWERED DEVICES
WIND TURBINES
OIL FIELDS FOR THE FUTURE
SHELTER

Dalziel and Scullion

2008-10-24T14:53:00.001-07:00

Flab Power

2008-10-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

Lithograph print on paper.

The power of movement

2008-10-24T14:46:00.001-07:00

The 'get fit in the office' health programme

2008-10-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

Exhaustion

2008-10-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

Lithograph prints on paper.

Link to PECSRL Paper presented in Lisbon

2008-10-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

http://tercud.ulusofona.pt/PECSRL/Presentations/SCULPTURAL%20INTERVENTION%20AS%20ACTION%20RESEARCH.pdf

Image sent to me my Jan A. Tjemsland

2008-09-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

'Jim' at the Oil Museum.

Another messages via email...

2008-09-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the experience of the Pedal Power Project. I was pleased to read about the last evening meeting under the bridge on your blog. The project made me think too. About energy flow, about how many can contribute to their local and global environment, and about how to bring light to dark places.
GT and Kristel

Thanks

2008-09-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Storhaug Skole SFO for the article about Pedro on your school website at
http://www.linksidene.no/minskole/Storhaug/pilot.nsf/VArt?Openview&u=SFO

And I await eagerly the forthcoming link at
http://www.norgesvenner.homepage.t-online.de/

Also to GT and Kristel for the image and text on your blog. It's interesting reading about the event from the other persons perspective. Many people saw me disappear into that door, but you were the only one who waited to see me come out.
http://kandgt2008.blogspot.com/
It was great meeting you both

Finally, there should be an article about PEDALPOWER in next months edition of the magazine Natur og Ungdom (Nature and Youth) see
www.putsj.no

From the sublime to the ridiculous - Police in Lisbon.

2008-09-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

Art and Culture in Lisbon

2008-09-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

In Lisbon I had the honor of seeing first hand the fragmented manuscripts of Fernnando Pessoa - 'The Book of Disquiet' at the National Library. Written on hundreds, if not thousands of scraps of paper, old envelopes and notebooks, and not published until long after his death, these treasured jigsaw pieces, discovered in an old suitcase, are one of the literary treasures of Europe, and I held them in my hand! After this euphoric moment I went out to celebrate and found this contraption on the street outside a restaurant - A chef sharpening his kitchen knives. A man after my own heart!

PECSRL - The Permanent European Conference for the Study of Rural Landscapes, Lisbon

2008-09-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

After leaving Stavanger I travelled to Lisbon, Portugal to give a paper at the PECSRL conference - 'Landscapes, Identities and Development'. My paper 'Sculptural Intervention as Action Research; Pedal Power at Bybrua Bridge, Norway' was in the special session about renewable Energies - 'Emerging Energies, Emerging Landscapes'. As an artisit in a conference dominated by geographers and anthropologists, I felt quite daunted to begin with. However, the paper seemed to go down well and although I did come at the subject from a very different angle, many of the issues of scale, ownership and community participation were shared. I also learned a great deal from many of the the other researchers.

Another comment via my email...

2008-09-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

Justin, maybe the open and humane manner in which this project has been carried out led naturally to your unexpected meeting under the bridge? The makers and "peddlers" (producers and consumers) showed a terrific open spirit. Over 1000 people sweating in order to (en)lighten a dark underpass!!! - well done everybody.
martin

It's not about the bike...

2008-09-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

After the final guests left the gallery it was time to pack up the work - everything except the lights which came down a few days later. This image of all the technical components demonstrates quite simply that the project was not about the technology, but about the people. Without those who made this project - and the lights - come to life, the basic mechanics meant nothing. In fact I remember that moment when I unpacked the small crate at the beginning of the project thinking; shit, there's nothing here, I have made a complete mistake! But time and experience have fortunately proved me wrong!

Presentation of project and discussion

2008-09-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

To end the project I gave a short presentation using the blog and website to a small but well informed group in the gallery. This included local politicians and residents who are justifiably concerned about the proposed plan to build a 3 floor underground car park in front of the Art Centre on Nytorget, set to have a 600 car capacity.

BBQ at Rogaland Kunstsenter

2008-09-05T13:43:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we had a BBQ at the art centre to mark the end of the Grasrota and Pedalpower projects. 'Jim' was placed in the parking space between the mural and the grass and people were able to contribute freely to the system by pedaling. In doing so participants contributed almost 5AH of power to the lights, ensuring that on this final night the lighting system kept going all night. One person even decided to ride 'Bridget' around the gallery for a few minutes - something I hadn't expected when I positioned her there. Special thanks go out to all the children who contributed through 'Jim' despite the very high seating position.

A Big Thank You!

2008-08-29T16:15:00.000-07:00

I need to thank a great many people for their part in this project. We have had nearly 1000 people actually help pedal in schools, gyms, cafes, cultural centres, parks and on the street. Thanks also to those of you who have helped with accomodation and equipment including the art school and Tou Works. But there are two people in particular I need to thank, without whom this project would never have happened in the way it has. Will Foster, who has been central to the design of my website and most of the printed material relating to this project. He has also helped implement the work and document it. Thanks Will - I owe you one! Also the fantastic Torunn Larsen whose enthusiasm is infectious. You have been a fountain of knowledge and energy. I appreciate everything you have done to make this project happen!

A Meeting under the bridge

2008-08-29T14:49:00.001-07:00

A special thing happened tonight when I went to turn on the lights for the penultimate time. When I was leaving the bridge store room a man approached me outside and asked if I was something to do with the project. I introduced myself and he explained that he had come all the way from Forres to see the lights being switched on. He had been following the project on the blog and wanted to come and see it for himself. I was delighted to see him and showed him inside the bridge and explained that you can actually walk from one side of the bridge to the other, inside the structure. The bridge is in fact a tunnel. I joked about the contrast between the firework display/rock concert which took place last night at the harbour - attended by what seemed like the whole of Stavanger - and my quiet light intervention powered by hand. But he didn't seem disappointed by the effect and continued to ask me questions.
This meeting made me reflect on the project as a whole: It had been my intention to make the site beneath the bridge more of a meeting place and less of a passing place, but I didn't expect it to happen in quite this manner, with me being part of that meeting. I don't know if the lights have made any difference to the space but I hope the effort to make the lights come on each evening has had some kind of impact. I have enjoyed every single meeting I have had - under the bridge and otherwise - it's been a great journey. I'm so glad I made the decision to move away from the original proposal of having pv panels and wind turbines on top of the bridge, and instead deciding on this human powered system. This project isn't about technology, it's about people. Yesterday I asked myself "what is human energy anyway"? Obviously it's kjoules, but it's also something else - it's about motivation. Hopefully this project has motivated people as others have motived me, and maybe that motivation will be carried forward in weird and wonderful ways.

Day 8 - Cafe Culture and Skate Park

2008-08-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

Government Minister hears about PEDALPOWER for Bybrua

2008-08-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

In the picture is Tora Aasland - Minister for Kunnskapsdepartementet (Higher Education and Research) who was told about the project by Torunn Larsen (Rogaland Kunstsenter) and given a flyer. The man next to her is in charge of organising the multi-million pound conference.

Day 8 -Oil North Seas Conference (ONS)

2008-08-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

Having met a few of the ONS delegates at the Oil Museum yesterday, I decided to cycle out to the conference centre with Torunn in an attempt to exhibit 'Bridgit' there. The generator and battery were connected so I managed to generate over 5AH of power during the 3 or 4 mile trip. Needless to say, getting the bike in was impossible - security was tight and entry was expensive, so I cycled around the conference venue before returning to the Art Centre.

Day 8 - Going Door to Door.

2008-08-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

We placed Pedro on top of the crate we have been moving all of the equipment around in (the same one the work was shipped out here in but with wheels on the bottom) and took it door to door along Nedre Dalgate - the street that links Rogaland Kunstsenter with the Bridge. The response was good; a mixture of amusement and surprise. Nearly everyone who was at home contributed at least a couple of minutes energy (amounting to over 1.5AH). We were then able to invite them along to the BBQ tomorrow which is at the art centre at 12. The highlight for me was meeting the owners of the house next to the bridge who invited me and Will in for an afternoon beer in the back garden. Thank you - we appreciated that big time.

Norwegian Radio

2008-08-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

For more information on the Radio feature mentioned earlier follow the links to:
http://nrk.no/programmer/radio/nitimen/1.6196534
Even if you don't speak Norwegian there are some nice pictures of the bike in action.

120 Students visit Art Centre. Then we visit Oil Museum and Storhaug School SFO

2008-08-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

Lots more pedal power today collected from Storhaug school, the oil Museum, and at the Art Centre where we had a visit from 120 students doing a course in ecology. Thanks to everyone who gave us a minute of their time and energy. Storhaug school SFO managed to donate almost 5 Amp Hours of energy - enough to power the lights for a whole night! At the Oil Museum we had everyone from trainee drillers, tourists and corporate lawyers on the bike. Tomorrow I will cycle 'Bridget' to the huge ONS (Oil North Seas) conference which has visitors from all over the World.

Day 6 - Kulturhus, National Radio and Pedersgata.

2008-08-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Last minute permission was received from the Kulturhus to place 'Jim' in the foyer in a space between the cinema, a sweet shop, the childrens museum and the library. This was great because Torunn had just received a call from Norwegian National radio to do a piece on PEDALPOWER for BYBRUA.
After we arrived at the Kulturhus interaction was slow as we struggled to work out a strategy for approaching people in this busy situation. However, as soon as we had our first participant a healthy queue formed for the best part of 2hrs. Nationalities ranged from Norwegian, British, German and French. Apparently the radio programme (which was recorded today but goes out tomorrow) will reach 1 Million people! Listen in between 9-11am.
In the afernoon we moved into Pedersgata, one of the streets that connects Rogalandkunstsenter to the bridge site. It was pretty busy by 4pm and for two hours we had a steady stream of volunteers. The image you can see here is of the generator in a sheltered shopfront space. I was standing with my back to the 'love shop'. The weather was awful today but we still got loads of energy and met some great people. Thanks to everyone who made the effort today!

Message for Vic from Mary sent to me

2008-08-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Justin,

I tried to put this on your blog spot as a comment but for some reason I was not allowed even though i am registered and tried to reregister again but to no avail - will you put it up for me as I would love for Vic to see it. Thank you for giving him a great afternoon with a story to tell.

Regards

Mary Gregoriy

Comment:
That's my boyfriend on the bike. He skyped me this evening (I'm living in Ireland at the moment) and told me the whole story. He was well tickled by the whole thing. I love the whole triangle thing. He is from Liverpool. Stavanger and Liverpool are joint capitals of culture this year. I am an artist living in Cork which was the capital in 2005, although it feels like yesterday. He was thrilled to be part of something. It made his day and it made mine too when he shared it with me. It is never a dull day living with Vic Singleton, he is performance art on tap! And I will be living with him again soon as I am coming to Stavanger at the end of Sept. thanks for giving us a memorable day even though we are apart.

Day 5 - Shopping around

2008-08-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

We took 'Jim' to one of the shopping centres in Stavanger and placed him in an area close to soft chairs and coffee tables, near to a fast food chain. Within two minutes we were approached by security and asked to move on. So we went outside the shopping centre and placed the generator centrally outside the tourist office next to the market traders. We had lots of donations of energy - the best of which was a man who happened to be on his way to SATS gym. He happily donated a few minutes of energy and then said he would come back in 15mins. Sure enough he came back - already changed into his tracksuit, and proceeded to do a 40min bike workout in the fresh air. When I asked him afterwards what had motivated him to give so much time and energy, he simply said that the effort he made would have otherwise been wasted.

Thanks Nylund School SFO!

2008-08-26T06:19:00.000-07:00

26/8/08
When I gave you the battery yesterday it measured 4.46 Amp hours - that is less than half full. When I collected it today it was up to 11.58 Amp hours - that is almost full and will power the lights for one night. Thanks to everyone who helped out!
27/8/08
The next battery was given to you measuring 8.14 AH and today when I picked it up it read 10.87. That's fantastic! Thanks for your help in keeping the lights going under Bybrua.

The one that got away

2008-08-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did forget to ask one participant if he minded having his photo taken before departing on the bike. What happened is that I asked first of all if he spoke English, to which he answered "yes, a little". Then I simply asked if he could ride my bike to the other side, thinking that this would lead to a longer conversation about the project. But instead, he simply took the bike from my grasp and cycled off across the bridge. I was quite relieved to hear from Will 10 or 15 minutess later that he had reached the other side, and that we were still in possession of the bike!

Proximity and Distance

2008-08-25T22:40:00.000-07:00

We have begun to develop a bit of a routine around the Bridge bike loan known as 'Bridgit'First of all I cycle to the other side of the bridge leaving Will with the cameras on the Stavanger side. I wait near the bus stop and ask the pedestrians if they would like to use the bike to get to the other side. If they agree, I explain what will happen and then I wave them goodbye. I take photos of them leaving and then text Will on the other side. It did dawn on me the first time that it was a bit of a race between the text message and the cyclist, and I did fear losing this race and the bike in the process. But so far Will has been given ample warning that we are 'in business' and has been able to welcome each cyclist to the other side.

Day 4 - Pedro goes to school and Bridget meets new friends

2008-08-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

This morning I presented Pedro to the staff at Nyhend School SFO (after school club) where Pedro will be located for the next three days. We installed him in the school gym in hand crank mode ready for participants. Then after lunch I presented my work and this project to first and second year students at the art school in Stavanger. They asked some good questions and seemed interested in the project so hopefully we will have some more participants in the coming days.
We have just come back from a successful day on the bridge with four cyclists from four different countries using bridgit in quick succession. Vic was there again and happily participated - our first repeat participant. But the best moment was a woman at the bus stop giving me a knowing smile. I was stood there with my cycle helmet but no bike. I think she has heard about the project or seen the bike in action. Anyway after these four cyclists, and my own effort to get to the other side in the first place, we have enough energy for another night of lighting. So far the lights have been able to run every night from 9.30pm-7am with energy to spare. Thanks to all your legs!

Day 2 - afternoon

2008-08-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we had the first successful crossing of the bridge by a member of the public. A friendly bloke called Vic from Liverpool rode the bike from one side to the other, and in the process generated almost 1AH of power. Not bad for a half-mile crossing. Based on performance so far this week, this will keep four of the eight lights going for approximately 3-4 hours.
We are beginning to recognize the familiar faces of commuters and hope to have more enthusiastic participants over the coming days. Lots of people seem interested, amused, excited by the project. It's strange sending someone off on your bike and waiting for it to come back with another person on board. Time does funny things in those moments of long anticipation.

Day 2 - late morning

2008-08-23T14:07:00.001-07:00

Pedro went into arm exercise mode in the upstairs gym at SATS.

Day 2 - morning

2008-08-23T13:52:00.001-07:00

This morning we attended the spin class at SATS gym and in one hour myself and Helmer Berre generated enough energy to power the lights under the bridge for over four hours.

Day 1 - The New Lights in Action

2008-08-22T15:55:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone who contributed their energy today to make these lights work tonight.

Meeting the locals

2008-08-22T15:48:00.001-07:00

Before returning our lift we decided to put it to good use meeting the locals. Torunn Larsen (Rogaland Kunstsenter) meets a pedestrian on his return home from work.

Day 1

2008-08-22T15:39:00.000-07:00

'Jim' Centre Stage at SATS Gym/training centre. Me meeting the press and promoting the project in preparation for tomorrows working session with 'Jim' who will be located in a Spin Class.

Day 1

2008-08-22T15:17:00.001-07:00

In the morning we visited Johannes Loeringssenter - a school which teaches children and adults Norwegian. We tested Pedro out with leg and hand pedals. The children were sad that this would be our only visit and asked us to come back next year. They produced enough energy to keep the lights going for three or four hours.

Day 1

2008-08-22T15:13:00.001-07:00

Bridget has her first crossing of Bybrua

All in one piece

2008-08-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

'Bridgit' the Bike Arrives in Stavanger ready for action on Bybrua

2008-08-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

The New Energy

2008-08-18T04:05:00.003-07:00

Departing Glasgow with 'Bridgit'

2008-08-18T02:04:00.000-07:00

Departing Glasgow for the train to Newcastle to catch the ferry to Stavanger

Spin

2008-08-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

Cycle to gym. Cycle at gym. Cycle from gym.
So, obviously the social dimension to exercise is important for people. These places resemble luxury hotels but have the allure of nightclubs. But all that spinning going nowhere is a crime. You could easily light the whole building with all that exercise going on, or power the music system the spin instructor uses. The faster the music, the greater the adrenalin, the faster the pedaling...

Discussing Light Installation with Electrician

2008-08-12T03:15:00.000-07:00

Cars Stavanger Style

2008-08-12T03:09:00.000-07:00

Bybrua Lights

2008-08-12T03:01:00.000-07:00

Completion of Bike Generators for Stavanger

2008-08-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

Bike Generator Ready for Volunteers

2008-08-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

Exercising the Imagination

2008-07-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

"Despite Having recently initiated a partial realization of the most obvious dangers that threaten the natural environment of our societies, they are generally content to simply tackle industrial pollution and then from a purely technocratic pespective, whereas only an ethico-political articulation- which I call ecosophy - between the three ecological registers (the environment, social relations and human subjectivity) would be likely to clarify these questions"..."there no longer appears to be a cause-and-effect relationship between the growth in techno-scientific resources and the development of social and cultural progress". "It seems instead that we face up to the logic of desiring ambivalence wherever it emerges in culture, everyday life, work, sport etc.- in order to reevaluate the purpose of work and of human activities according to different criteria than those of profit and yield"..."Individuals must become both more united and increasingly different".

(Guattari, 'The Three Ecologies', 1989)

Consumed

2008-07-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

Brain Washing

2008-07-29T06:33:00.000-07:00

“A people can be just as dangerously overpowered by the wattage of its tools as by the caloric content of its foods, but it is much harder to confess to a national overindulgence on wattage than to a sickening diet”.

(Ivan Illich 'Energy and Equity' 1974)

Boy Genie

2008-07-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

2008-07-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

Jean Tinguely

2008-07-29T06:21:00.000-07:00

Hundertwasser

2008-07-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

Hundertwasser House Vienna

2008-07-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

Placemaker for displaced people

2008-07-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

Concept for Art in Common Space

Exhaustion Monument

2008-07-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

Concept for a Public Sculpture

Placemaking

2008-07-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

Food for thought

2008-07-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

Used Vegetable Oil Fuelled Chip Van (with Solar powered Ice cream)

2008-07-29T05:26:00.000-07:00

Door Generator for heating

2008-07-29T05:22:00.000-07:00

A device to counteract drafts

Bike Dynamo Light (After Duchamp)

2008-07-29T05:18:00.000-07:00

Homage

The Play of Power and The Power of Play

2008-07-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

The Play of Power and The Power of Play

2008-07-29T05:10:00.000-07:00

2008-07-29T05:08:00.000-07:00

2008-07-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

2008-07-29T04:53:00.000-07:00

Tadpole Lights (by Mike Stoane Lighting)

2008-07-14T10:06:00.001-07:00

Here's a picture of one of the eight very effective LED lights to be used in the system beneath Bybrua in Stavanger. They are currently being adapted with drivers to work from a 12v battery which will be recharged with human energy using one of three pedal powered generators - one static but portable for domestic use, one capable of receiving bicycles in public spaces, the other a mobile bike to be offered to pedestrians crossing the bridge.

Sound to light

2008-07-14T09:49:00.001-07:00

This is a simple sound to light circuit I soldered together. The system glows red when the inbuilt mic picks up sound. It can be adjusted to respond to different sound levels. The ideal would be to create a system which is not dependent on batteries, but translates sound energy into light. I'm not sure if the technology is there yet but I am looking into it. If I did manage to build a system I would place it next to the M25 at Gunpowder Park. Perhaps the miniature lights could be configured to form a text which became activated during heavy traffic usage, and capable of communicating with drivers.

Frying steak

2008-07-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

'Bill the Biker' said that the heat sink (a heat dispersal grill) on my bike generator was likely to get so hot that I could fry steaks on it. Well there's another idea - thanks for that Bill. I might use olive oil instead of a silicone heat transfer compound, and I might flavour it with garlic and rosemary. Thanks again Bill....

Bill The Biker

2008-07-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

I met 'Bill the Biker' today - a Harley riding electrician who is helping me with the electrical components for the pedal powered bike. He's a great guy with no reservations or hang-ups about such a strange sounding project. Far from it, he even saw the potential merits in a future scenario where avid cyclists would help contribute to energy production in their own homes - a kind of reversal of the electric car which you normally plug into your home to fill with electricity overnight. Instead, he advocated a bike scheme which you would plug into your home at the end of a daily commute t help power lights for example.
He also asked me if I planned to plug the whole bike into the bridge, or whether I was going to take off the battery and then plug them into the lighting system. I said the latter. His critique was that the public wouldn't get such a clear sense that the bike had done the work. I agree, and it did give me the idea to house the bike inside the bridge at the end of each day, and to have it lit up inside and visible through the grate in the bridge which is at eye level. I told him this and he said he wanted some credit. Well here it is Bill - thanks for giving me the idea!

Eco nightclub

2008-07-10T00:26:00.000-07:00

I heard this on Radio 4 this morning - the Worlds first Eco Nightclub with it's own energy generating dancefloor said to be capable of producing up to half of the clubs energy requirements. It makes me feel slightly more confident in some of my own more 'ambitious' ideas. Here's more on that story:

"THURSDAY 10TH JULY @ SURYA, KINGS CROSS, LONDON Each week millions upon millions of exuberant human beings head out of their houses and into nightclubs to expend large amounts of energy on the dance-floor. Mobilising vast social groups each and every week clubbing remains one of the few areas of society untouched by the green message. All this is about to change as Dr. Earth plans to launch the world’s first eco-disco and unveil a 10 point manifesto for all club owners and promoters across the world to adopt and do their bit, however small, towards saving the planet".

recruiting for pedal power

2008-06-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

preparing for the Grasrota opening at Rogaland Kunstsenter

2008-06-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

The bridge community

2008-06-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

2008-06-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

'Pedal Power’ for Bybrua
21. – 28. August

A lighting system will be installed beneath Bybrua in Starvanger. It will be powered by bicycle generators.
From June onwards there will be a number of opportunities to donate some of your energy to this scheme. We are looking for volunteers to do some 'community service' through pedal power.
The Energy for this system must come from you!
The aim of the project is to encourage community dialogue, to raise awareness of alternative energy, and to encourage reflection on the environment - urban as well as rural.

If you are interested and would like to find out how you can get involved, please contact Torunn Larsen at
torunn(a)rogalandkunstsenter.no
Watch this blog to find out the latest developments of the project.

Come along to Rogaland Kunsenter for the opening of Grasrota at 2pm on June 7th where you can find out more about the project and sign up to donate your pedal power for Bybrua.

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'Pedal Power’ for Bybrua
21. – 28. August

Lyd og lysinstallasjon drevet av sykkelgeneratorer
og bilbatterier
...men energien må komme fra DEG!

Er du opptatt av fornybar energi eller en ivrig syklist? Vil du være med og donere noen kilojoules, (og kalorier) til et spennende kunstprosjekt og lyse opp et av Stavangers mørke områder?

Sykkel-dugnad fra juni til august. Du kan også bidra med catering, leggmassasje for syklistene, eller historier om brua.
Brua, byen –og verden trenger din energi!

Meld deg til samfunnstjeneste i perioden juni-august:
torunn@rogalandkunstsenter.no

‘Pedal Power for Bybrua’ eller stikk innom Rogaland kunstsenter 7. juni...

Spilt Milk, oil prices flying

2008-06-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

30/5/08
Fishermen, dairy farmers and lorry drivers strike across Europe over the soaring price of fuel. Farmers hit by low milk prices protest by spraying milk back onto their fields and feeding the milk back to the herd. Spanish fishermen gift free fish to pensioners. One french minister compared the tax on fuel with the tax on salt that led to the French Revolution.

SPIN CYCLE: Advertising using the promise of pedal power without the product to match that promise

2008-05-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

I spotted this advertisement for washing machines in Hildesheim Germany. The promise seems to be for the creation of leisure time through the use of electrical domestic products. Manufacturers seem to be missing the potential alignment of human energy output for the creation of electricity to power such appliances. What a missed opportunity!

Outdoor Playground for adults (Stavanger Norway)

2008-05-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

Why not attach this thing to the grid?

Playground/Gym Generator (outdoor version)

2008-05-13T13:20:00.001-07:00

IMAGINE THESE AS PISTON GENERATORS

PEDALPOWER: Contact us to gift your time and energy

2008-03-30T05:01:00.000-07:00

Contact Torunn Larsen at (Nor) 51 59 97 60
or email Justin Carter at justincarter73@hotmail.com to find out more.

The pedestrian lighting system beneath Bybrua will be active from Friday 22nd August until Thursday 28th August. We will be looking for cyclists from Wednesday 20th August.

There will be three different types of pedal generators available to use: The first, a mobile bicycle available for use between each side of Bybrua. The second, a stationary bike stand in which you can park your own bike to pedal. The final version, a portable machine available for loan which you can use in your home and book in advance. (see image below) For more details contact Rogaland Kunstsenter.

Other devices and contraptions

2008-03-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

selected images from sketchbooks

Monument to Displaced People (Shelter)

2008-03-28T10:56:00.000-07:00