Solar-Powered Kinetic Sculpture: A Collaborative Educational Experiment

This article describes the collaborative efforts of a group of artists and scientists to create kinetic sculptures responsive to changes in the heat or light of the sun. Kinetic responses were caused by density changes in liquids or expansion of wax-filled pistons exposed to the sun or by photocells controlling servo motors. Responses which ran counter to viewer expectation were frequently sought. Some issues arising from this collaboration are briefly discussed.