Mark II

The autumn strong winds have hit the HPC test beds here in the Northumberland nursery. The various propeller flower heads positioned along the fence are rattling around at great speed and reminding me of suggestions that I could be generating electricity as I travel. 

From left to right i.white desk fan flower  ii. aluminium  butterfly heater fan flower iii. black radiator fan flower with red inner wheel centre

With the development of Mark II of the plant on my mind I have been watching closely to compare smoothness of rotation of the various forms and the visual appeal of each of them. 

Taking up the offer of a colleague Tom Mullholland (engineer & science teacher) I took my collection rotors (propellers) down to his workshop in Sunderland to explore the possible ways of converting  the wind power into energy to light up the plant.

 

Surrounded literally by hundreds of stacked boxes containing mechanical parts, grommets, salvaged  electrical devices and a kettle heating up next to us  by solar panels on the roof - I knew I was in the perfect place to get advice and technical help.

  

Tom explained how the most appropriate motors to use for this situation are those designed to operate from batteries rather than the mains, i.e. using a lower voltage.





Checking out possibilities and thinking through fixing methods for each propeller it was decided that the heavier propellers such as this acrylic and metal fan once used to inflate hot air balloons would be best mounted onto an old drill.

While smaller motors used for running model cars etc could generate the electricity from the smaller fans.

Precise measurements were taken for Tom to be able to calculate the extension shafts required to fit over the motors axle.

While Tom is making the electrical links I am searching for tubes of the exact dimensions to house the motors. These tubes need to connect onto & become part of the  plants overall stem structure.

The first aim of our experiments is to light up a series of LED parasol lights that fit neatly round the plants stems, but which until now have been powered by batteries.

With the darker nights approaching I should have plenty of time check how well the flower turbines work.

Prize awarded...

At last the prize for naming the plant has been received by William White family in the Midlands.

The winning name being 'Mistral' - inspired by the winds that whipped up during the performance outside the Natural History Museum.

The prize was the first cut stem taken from the plant, plus
special chocolates.

Reclaiming Sculpture

Three dimensional artwork in the majority of schools increasingly seems to be left behind, possibly because of the lack of space and time needed and often the cost of materials. So as part of Art Week  in schools this summer I am promoting the idea of recycling unwanted objects into sculptures. I see this as my next quest - to share the vast assortment of materials donated, collected and found for the Heavy Plant Crossing with young people to make sculptures.

My first workshop reclaiming objects this week was with twelve 15 year old pupils at Penicuik High School. This was their first opportunity to make sculpture and to work collaboratively. Initially bemused by the strange array of materials they quickly picked up objects and began to fathom out how they could join them together. Abandoning  pre-conceived ideas of what they might construct e.g. unicorns etc they gradually let the materials suggest what might be possible. The ideas began to take the most wonderful shapes and within a few hours we had three very different  humorous sculptures with evocative titles -Colin the Tourist - Jealous White Lies - C644 LTN - each with fabulous back stories. 

Definitely the way to go in introducing sculpture in schools, especially as reclaiming materials is  free and inspires such imaginative artworks and associated story lines with a strong sustainable message.

Inspired names......

Thanks to everyone for the fabulous names which rival any plant label names.

Explorer             Sarah            Grace                          GM
Plantastic           Freddie          Car Plant                      Tamla

Wanderer             John             Trundleweed                    Jan
Hooveronimous        Ian              Morph

Florian              Stephanie        Stranger                       Steven

Morrissey            MM               Sojourner Truth.               Susanne

Changeling           lionpops         Euphrasia Eye-bright           Claudia

Poly                 MD               Black Night                    Caroline

Dizzy                CB               Pipe Dream  Pipio insolitus    LS

Barton’s Bloomers    AM               Lazylizzie
Wheel-plant                           Botanical Billy                Haywain
Doobiesaurous        Alex             Horace                         Stuart
Black turn ripples   AV               Contraption                    LL
Venus pie trap       Malia            Whirling Dervish               SG
Mistral              WW               Rhododendroid Perambulenta     WMB

Steamwheel           Anon             Everything Out                 Joe
Hector               Ian              Beauty form the Beast
Mobile Gimigog       Ireland          Spiderplant                    LL
         

The winning name was 'Mistral' - inspired by the  breeze that picked up outside of the Natural History Museum which suddenly began to turn the flower heads assembled from various fans. 

'Mistral' was put forward by William White - please let me have your postal address your prize awaits - the first cut flower stem and a collection of artisan chocolates.

Comments on the movie.....

received via e mail over the last few weeks: 


I love the film – in particular, people’s responses to the piece and your arrival at the CFS. J Hampson.  Senior Strategy Officer, Arts and Culture RBKC

What a fab idea ! What's happening to it next ? I'd like it to grow and grow ! S Shotton

Just watched your Heavy Plant film & so enjoyed it. It has a great feel of the progression of the idea & the playful spirit of it's making & reception. C Rankin

Loved the film. I think I’d like to make a wonderful machine like yours! You looked really at home making your way through the streets – you must do this sort of thing regularly!

I have built two generator-bikes and use them in my science shows. My latest idea is for a solar powered scooter lets talk.  Tom www.technologytom.com

Just watched film which is really lovely, such a lot of laughter, and some great faces/expressions/people.  Bravo!  fun it is.
J Ashdown

It was a pleasure to help and the video is truly magnificent  - I so wish I could have been there...such a manic time of year. I can't wait to see what you next ideas are!

Let me know what's next - I love your work 

Abby Hazell Garden Design  studio@abigailhazell.com

 

Hi Julia - fab video and was that Jilly as well? Lovely to see the kids getting involved and lots of people interacting with it! S Hallberg

The movie - a rough cut

Heavy Plant Crossing - the movie

At last the Heavy Plant Crossing - the movie is on line. Enjoy! Let us know what you think.



In under 5 minutes the film encapsulates the process from finding and reclaiming objects to assemble a mechanical plant, which is  hybridized by its keeper as she tows it through the streets and parks of London to RHS Chelsea in their attempt to win Best Plant in Show with a finale propagation party at Worlds End Kitchen Garden.


Once you have seen it on line you may want to venture to the Garden of Disorientation to see it projected onto on the walls of the City, before the Chelsea Fringe Festival ends on the 9th May.