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a LOW IMPACT VEHICLE exploration (aLIVe)

Inspiring connections > transportation, transit and storm water systems

In December 2009, 4Culture posted a call for ideas that will inspire and engage the broader community in a conversation about transportation. The aLIVe project aims to spark interaction across disciplines, showcase ideas and suggest action around issues of energy, livability and design.

The selection panel of experts from the fields of art, applied design, technology, public health and transportation selected eight ideas for implementation of “low impact vehicle” design from a field of 21 submitted applications. The selected recipients and projects are:

Michelle Arab: A series of drawings made from sediment and debris collected from catch basin filter inserts into the storm drain system.

Vaughn Bell: Sculptural walking sticks and a series of performances that reinforce the sensory experience of the traveler and the notion that the ultimate low impact vehicle is the human body.

Julia Field, Undriving.org: A series of 5-7 short documentary videos that chronicle the choices made by individuals who have made an Undriving pledge and received their Undriver License.

Melissa Glenn and Matt Inpanbutr: Bi(K) o garten – a kit that transforms parking spaces into a temporary “park.”

Michael Hintze, Alisha Dall’Osto, David R. Dall’Osto and Nadine Smith: Magnetic Mass Assist table-top model that illustrates a mechanism to harness the kinetic energy of descending vehicles to assist the riders going up the hill, making bikes more practical for a wider range of riders on steep Seattle terrain.

Dominic Muren: Production Cycle, a mobile, micro-factory in the form of a pedal-powered sewing machine. Muren will make reusable cloth shopping bags for give-aways at local farmers markets. The currency for the bags will be information about other waste stream products that can be recycled into goods. A website that employs Google mapping technology will illustrate the sources of all contributed recycled materials.

Johnnie Olivan: A fleet of 6-8 “Bike-Cars” that are constructed from reclaimed bikes and other materials and designed to offer pedal-powered alternatives for transporting goods and people.

Stokley Towles: A one-person performance and temporary exhibition based on interviews with individuals involved in transportation infrastructure design, storm water systems and public perception and behavior research. The goal of the project is to stimulate ways for the public to engage in “transpiration” – re-imagining how we travel around the city.

The aLIVe events and projects are produced in collaboration with artist Cheryl dos Remedios and Great City and will occur in various venues over the course of the next 12 months. Blog4Culture will keep you posted with event details and ways to participate.

photo courtesy of Johnnie Olivan

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