ANDY WEBSTER
In 2008, Arlene built a solar furnace on her farm in Pennsylvania, USA. This 24ft by 8ft structure uses concentrated solar energy to produce high temperatures for heating. Arlene's project exemplified DIY, hobbyist activities through its ad-hoc construction techniques and use of common materials. Her matter-of-fact description, uploaded online, inspired further exploration of the furnace's construction approach.
A new project aimed to replicate Arlene's furnace, adhering as closely as possible to the original specifications. However, in keeping with the original's improvised nature, many construction processes and materials were adapted.
In 2015, in collaboration with Darren Ray, we successfully installed the reconstructed furnace on the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, UK, for the art event 'Goonhilly Village Green'.* The furnace, a testament to Arlene’s ingenuity, provided heating for the Happidrome building during the Village Green Society Lecture series.
*Goonhilly Village Green was devised by artists Sara Bowler and Elizabeth Masterton.