Today second visit to the Natural Law project in Bonymaen, Swansea UK. Artists collective Artstation have added a Arthub to a former batist Chapel. The chapel also hosts a food bank for this deprived area of Wales.

 

Artstation is running a range of activities – gardening, radio play, green dream house, community conversations about regeneration and climate action, all aiming for a Better Bonymaen. They are doing a great job of bringing a mix of residents, stakeholders, specialists, artists to the table. Check recent some of the conversations, for example on Climate Change in Food Bank Neighborhoods.

 

Down the hill from the estate is the Crymlyn Bog, one of the largest wetlands areas in Wales. Part of the Natural Law project is to improve the relationship between the community and the bog, which is often used for dumping unwanted objects.

 

 

Artstation invited me to run a couple of experiments with microbial fuel cells on the bog. We are planning to measure the electrical output (voltage) from several cells and to sonify the data, thus giving voice to some of the unseen life in the bog. I have made a solar-powered data logging box (bog box) that collects a voltage sample every 10 minutes.

 

Today we cycled down to the bog in Natural Law’s electric cargo bike and plugged the bog box in a quiet area. We will download the file in a few weeks time, observe variations and experiment with data-driven audio. We are also planning to transmit the data through a live link from the bog to the chapel.

 

We also talked to local primary school teachers about possibilities for their pupils to engage with the project, including microbial fuel cell workshops.

Photos by Glenn Davidson

We Are Ducked, video and sculpture, has gone to Florida for a winter break.
Exhibited in the Ritter Art Gallery in Florida Atlantic University as part of The Dreams of our Fathers: Environment, Technology & Urban Landscapes
“The exhibition gathers artists who use technology as a tool, a subject, or a metaphor in their exploration of our contemporary culture of consumption and growth while reviewing its impact on our landscape. From reflections on the petroleum industry to criticism of industrial processes and their effects on our environment to analyses of migration patterns and suburbia’s surreal but nostalgic plastic landscapes, these artists explore the human footprint and its legacy on our world.”
Until March 1st 2024