CrossWINDS focuses on the local phenomenon of wind including the history and prevalence of wind power in the region and kinetic artists who put wind at the center of their practice. The project is designed to teach young people to become knowledgeable about the powerful local resource in order to create kinetic works of art. Student artist teams will co-create models of kinetic sculpture based on a curriculum co-written by the project partners. The curriculum is replicable and adaptable in schools across the High Desert and beyond. The works of art designed and generated by the students is a collaborative effort among numerous departments: Math, Science, English, Performing Arts, Foreign Language, Special Education, Physical Education, Social Science and Visual Art. The students in each department will be guided to gather data regarding wind and its impact on the environment. They will create models/small functioning kinetic sculptures inspired by the data and the designs of windmills, wind chimes, turbines and other kinetic art.

 

In accordance with the multi-disciplinary mission of the Green MOAH Initiative, numerous departments are joining the project.  The works of art are created by students through a collaborative effort among core departments such as Visual and Performing Arts, Math and Science. Additional departments including English, Foreign Language, Special Education, Physical Education, Social Science and more have been encouraged to get involved in complementary projects. The students in the core departments are guided to gather data regarding wind and its impact on the environment and the diverse array of turbine designs that harness wind for renewable energy. Students are creating functioning kinetic sculptures inspired by the data and the designs of windmills, wind chimes, turbines and other kinetic art. The projects teach students to innovate, communicate and collaborate, problem solve, think outside of the box, engage in an immersive multi-disciplinary creative process and learn how to work with new and recycled materials. Ultimately, the sculptures will generate power from the wind to illuminate LED strips incorporated into the work. The sculptures were tested for power levels by physics students and are used to raise public awareness about wind as an artful renewable resource. The sculptures will be exhibited at each partnering high school, MOAH and other locations and events in the community. Photography and film students are collaborating on a documentary of the creative process and creating posters to further educate the community about the project.