This event is in celebration of the launch of the book A History of Solar Power Art and Design by Alex Nathanson (published by Routledge on July 30, 2021). Alex will discuss his practice and introduce guests to this current and innovative topic. Alex will be joined by artists whose work is profiled in the book. The event will also highlight some past Flux Factory members who have worked with solar power. The discussion will be followed by a reception.

Book Description:
A History of Solar Power Art and Design examines the history of creative applications of photovoltaic (PV) solar power, including sound art, wearable technology, public art, industrial design, digital media, building integrated design, and many others.

The growth in artists and designers incorporating solar power into their work reflects broader social, economic, and political events. As the cost of PV cells has come down, they have become more accessible and have found their way into a growing range of design applications and artistic practices. As climate change continues to transform our environment and becomes a greater public concern, the importance of integrating sustainable energy technologies into our culture grows as well. The book can be purchased via most book retailers. Use code FLY21 for a 20% discount when purchasing the book through Routledge’s website.

Alex Nathanson Bio:
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 artistic collaborators have included Dylan Neely, Kid Millions, Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, Will Owen, Kendall Williams, and Lindsay Packer. His work has been featured at Issue Project Room (NYC), the Climate Museum (NYC), the Museum of the Moving Image (NYC), Anthology Film Archives (NYC), Film Society of Lincoln Center (NYC), Dome of Visions (Copenhagen, Denmark), and the Art Prospect Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia), among other venues. He was one of the long-term artists in residence at Flux Factory, in Queens, NY from 2012 to 2016, and in collaboration with his multimedia performance group Fan Letters was awarded residencies at The Watermill Center in 2017 and 2019. In 2020, Solar Protocol was awarded a fellowship from Eyebeam. Most recently, his book A History of Solar Power Art and Design was published by Routledge.

Website: www.alexnathanson.com
Instagram Handle: @alexnathanson
Twitter Handle: @solar4artists