Solar Power for Artists Workshop Series 2025

Learn about solar powered sound art, kinetic sculpture, design methods, and more! These workshops are for adults.

Workshop sessions include solar power art design methods, solar power sound art, and solar powered kinetic art. Participants will build small solar art projects they can take with them. We will discuss the history of artists working in the field, common conceptual approaches, and a number of technical methods. No prior experience with solar power or electronics is necessary.

All workshops will be taught by Alex Nathanson.

Discounts are automatically applied if enrolling in multiple workshops: 15% off for 2, 20% off for 3, and 25% off for 4.

Additional need-based/ sliding scale discounted admission is available by request. Email YWxleCB8IGVuZXJneXRyYW5zaXRpb25kZXNpZ24gISBjb20= to request need-based discounted admission.

10am-1pm: Solar Power Art Methods

This workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of solar power design. A framework for conceptualizing and creating solar power art and education projects will be introduced. The framework will be introduced to participants through a series of small hands on experiments and projects.

2pm-5pm: Solar Power Sound Workshop

This workshop will introduce participants to a range of techniques for creating solar powered sound making devices that can be applied to instruments, installations, performances, and more. We will discuss the history of the field, common conceptual approaches, and a number of technical methods. All participants will build their own solar powered instrument in the workshop.

Three techniques for building instruments will be demonstrated.

• Direct drive acoustic instruments
• Solar powered analog synthesis
• Sonifying light frequencies

10am-1pm: Solar Drawing Machines

This workshop will introduce participants to a range of techniques for creating solar powered drawing machines. We will discuss the history of artists working in the field, common conceptual approaches, and a number of technical methods. All participants will build their own solar powered mechanical drawing machine.

2pm-5pm: Sun Following Machines

This workshop will introduce participants to techniques for creating a mechanical sculpture that follows the sun. Participants will be learn about designs for making devices that drive or spin towards the sun, and adjust their position as the light changes. All participants will build their own solar powered mechanical sculpture that responds to sunlight.

About the venue:

All workshops will occur in Long Island City, Queens, NY (near Queensboro Plaza). The exact address will be provided when the

About the Instructor:

Alex Nathanson is a designer, multimedia artist, technologist, and educator who has been working with solar power for a decade. His work is primarily focused on exploring both the experimental and practical applications of sustainable energy technologies, particularly photovoltaic solar power. He is the author of the book A History of Solar Power Art and Design and leads the education platform Solar Power for Artists as well as the design studio Energy Transition Design LLC.

About Solar Power for Artists:

Solar Power for Artists is a design studio and education platform focused on both creative and traditional applications of sustainable energy, particularly photovoltaic solar power. We're making sustainable energy tangible, accessible, and understandable. We provide a wide range of design and education services for community organizations, cultural and educational institutions, and businesses in the sustainable energy industry. Our education platform provides accessible, often open source, resources for learning about creative applications of photovoltaic solar power. This includes an historic archive, workshops, and tutorials, among other initiatives. More info is available at https://www.solarpowerforartists.com/

Also check out other Arts events in Queens, Workshops in Queens, Fine Arts events in Queens.