proposal

=** RENEWABLE ENERGY ART **= =** Senior Year Project Proposal  **= =** Julia Belamarich  **= =** 11/4/09  ** =

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For twelve years I have had information dumped upon me day after day. My mind has accumulated facts, formulas, and theories, and by this point, I am practically bursting with information. I am ready to apply all the things that I have learned to the real world, and see what I am actually capable of. I know that I have the knowledge, the creativity, and the determination to do something great, and my senior year project is going to be my big opportunity to show you what I got. ======

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I often find myself feeling restless at school, unsatisfied with just learning some information in a textbook, taking a test on it, and moving on. When I find information that interests me, I want to explore its boundaries in full, take it to the next level. When we studied evolution in my AP biology class, I took books out of the library out of pure interests for the material. I wanted to learn everything, to go dig up bones, to figure out the lost links in the evolutionary diagrams. I am intrigued by the world around me and many times the abbreviated information we learn in school is not enough. ======

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I am also a very hands-on person. This is reflected in my two major academic interests, biology and art. In biology, I am drawn to the fieldwork, where I have the opportunity to explore and experiment, to see and feel and touch natural creations. In art, my imagination can take over and I am free to create and express myself through my drawings, paintings, and sculptures. The natural environment, with its wild patterns and textures and colors, and its unique beauty, is often an inspiration for my art. ======

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So, why senior year project? I am restless do something with the information I have soaked up all these years. I am ready to spit it back out at people, revamped with my own views, ideas, and creative style. Senior year project will give me the opportunity to utilize my wealth of knowledge, my curiosity in the world around me, and my talents and passion for art and the environment, to influence the world around me. ======

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For my senior year project, I will combine my interests in art and environmental issues. Specifically, I will focus on street art and its role in the communication of ideas. Using art as a form of expression and a medium in which to communicate a message, I will raise awareness about global warming and the environment. This art will take place in the form of art installations and sculptures, into which I will incorporate photovoltaic solar panels. These sculptures will be a source of renewable energy and, through art and design, they will bring environmental awareness into urban areas. ======

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Ever since I was a little kid, art has been a part of me. I used to spend days just drawing away, creating imaginary worlds and characters, experimenting with paints and markers and crayons. This passion for art has stuck with me over the years, and drawing has become my creative outlet of thoughts and ideas. Recently, I have sparked an interest in street art—public murals, installations, graffiti, stencils, stickers, etc. Street art allows artists to bring their thoughts and ideas out into public spaces where they can be viewed by a broad audience. ======

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Some famous street artists who have inspired me include Keith Haring, Banksy, and Shepard Fairey. Haring created much of his work on the streets, most of which carried social messages. One of his most famous pieces is the Crack is Wack// mural on New York’s FDR Drive, which protested the crack epidemic in the 1980s and its effects on New York City. Banksy is an anonymous English graffiti and stencil artist whose art confronts many political and social issues. For example, in August of 2005 he painted nine images on the Israeli West Bank barrier, one of which portrayed children digging hole through the wall. Shepard Fairey is of course most famous for his Obama “HOPE” posters. Fairey’s roots lie in street art, and his OBEY sticker campaign encourages people to question advertisements and propaganda. All of his works are extremely politically charged. ======

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In my own work, I have started to experiment with communicating messages through words and pictures. I am fascinated with the idea of public art, because it is outside and in-your-face. City streets and sidewalks are the ideal locations to convey messages to a broad audience. Although Banksy and Fairey often install their artwork illegally, many cities are accepting of street art and often commission art installations because it improves the aesthetic appearance of the urban sprawl. My fascination and passion for art will be the driving force behind my senior year project ======

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My interest in the environment was also instilled in me at a young age. I was a wild and adventurous kid, and to me the woods seemed like a boundless playground. Like in my drawings, my imagination could run wild in the woods, and I was free to play and explore. My parents brought me on frequent hiking trips, teaching me their love of the outdoors. I took this passion to the next step this summer, when I volunteered for the Student Conservation Association. This organization is dedicated to protect and restore national parks and other green spaces in all 50 states. ======

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With SCA, I ventured into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness of Idaho. For a month, I was fourteen miles away from any roads, cars, buildings, or electricity. With a group of five other students and two leaders, I built two hiking trails and a bridge. I learned how to use tools like pulaskis and mcleods, and I became an expert at camping, hiking, and trailwork. I learned backcountry cooking methods and how to camp safely. Over the month my appreciation for nature grew exponentially. The views were breathtaking and the fresh air was invigorating. Although the work was hard, I was so happy to be out in the woods, helping to make it more accessible to others. I found that besides ice cream and dishwashers, there wasn’t very much I missed from the high-tech, materialistic world. I loved the simple life, and my experience changed my view on the luxury of items that we consider necessary here in Newton. And now that I have really experienced nature, I am more committed than ever to do what I can to protect it. ======

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In terms of solar panel technology, I am not very knowledgeable. My idea was inspired by an article I read on NPR about the Obama administration’s plan to build huge new solar energy plants in the Southwest ( [] ). ======

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Conservation groups have protested this plan over some environmental concerns. Although they approve of the President’s attempt at creating more renewable energy sources, installing these solar energy plants would destroy habitats, plants, and animals. In addition, the energy would be captured hundreds of miles from where it will actually be used, which is inefficient. ======

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This story sparked my idea to create renewable energy art. The most efficient place to capture energy is right on city street corners or residential neighborhoods, where it can be used. Installing a solar energy plant right in the middle of the city is illogical, because it would take up large amounts of space and it would be aesthetically unappealing. However, if solar panels could be integrated into art sculptures and installations, they would be aesthetically pleasing and more feasible. ======

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I have recently done a little bit of background research into renewable energy art, and I have found that a few artists have experimented with this idea before. Sara Hall embeds solar cells into her artistic glasswork. She puts this solar stained glass into buildings as windows and also creates glass installations that serve as renewable energy sources. She is currently constructing the first stained glass installation in North America to utilize photovoltaic cells. It is the central element of a Wind Tower being built in Vancouver. In Davis, California, artist Robert Behrens built an installation of sixteen 70-foot-high colored steel poles coated with a special adhesive paint on which solar panels are placed. Although both of these installations are much larger than mine will be, they will serve as an inspiration to my work. ======

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The first step of this project will obviously be research. I plan to do extensive research into solar panel technology. What is the science behind it? How does it work? What are the key components? How can it be integrated into art? I will also research street art. What works? What doesn’t? How can I best communicate my message? ======

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Next, I will begin to plan out sculptures and art installations that will communicate a message and I will determine how I could integrate solar panels into my art. I will experiment with different plans and designs. ======

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In order to actually implement these designs into physical objects, I would need to obtain solar panels. These cost money, something that I don’t really have. This would definitely be an obstacle. Through contacting different environmental groups and solar panel producers, there is a possibility that I could get the resources I need for a reduced cost. ======

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If I were able to obtain a solar panel of two, I would follow through with one of my designs and create a product in the form of a sculpture. If this finished product is successful, I have two options. I could inquire the city of Newton about installing it somewhere where the energy could be used and the sculpture could be publically viewed. This, of course, would have challenges of its own, such as where would it be put, what qualifications would have to be met, where would the energy be used, etc. I could also try and market this product, perhaps creating more, which people could buy for their yards or stores. ======

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If I were unable to actually obtain a solar panel, I would stick to designing products that could be created if solar panels were available. I could maybe post the plans and designs onto a website or create fake miniature models. ======

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Success will either take form in a functional renewable energy sculpture, available for installation on public space or for individual use, or as a fake model based on well-researched plans and designs. ======

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The biggest challenge of this project is the materials needed. Solar panels can be expensive, and I will do my best to get some, but if I can’t I think that my backup idea will still shows that I have put time and effort into researching and designing the product. ======

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I know that this project could present many obstacles along the way, but I am determined to deal with these obstacles the best I can and reconfigure my project based on problems that arise. I would love to have the opportunity to pursue this idea and I think that it has a lot of potential. ======