Sustainable Indulgence
Justin Carter
Sustainable Indulgence is a solar powered ice cream stall. It is manufactured entirely from found and recycled materials.
Creative Contribution
What was the significant innovation in approach or thinking behind the project/artwork? How can this be recognisably attributed to the involvement of creative practice?
The artist Justin Carter travelled along the East Kent coastline giving freshly made produce prepared from local organic ingredients as a way of encouraging participation and social interaction. "Bringing together a device capable of producing, storing and distributing food - all in one unit, was an attempt to address the problem of 'food miles' and to reduce the amount of energy consumption needed to generate a particular product." Justin Carter (Written response to this survey).
The transformation of the suns energy into ice cream is in the words of the artist, an attempt to employ a kind of economic logic: "when it is sunny and hot, and the demand for ice cream high, production will also be high. Inversely, when conditions are overcast and the demand for ice cream low, production will also be low" - Justin Carter (Written response to this survey).
Collaboration
What were the disciplinary contributors to the project? What model of research / development was followed? What were factors leading to success / problems?
The artist received technical assistance from Renewable Devices, who specialise in micro-renewables, as well as help in constructing the steel frame from Scott Associates.
The artist's final works are often form of functional prototype and he likes to think of the whole process of doing a project "as a form of research, including the 'performance' of the work with a live audience" - Justin Carter (Written response to this survey).
The work was developed out of an invitation to participate in the Whitstable Biennale. The artist undertook site visits that led him to consider the history and use of the area, its proximity and relationship to the sea.
Values
What were the outcomes of the project? How were these disseminated to outside stakeholders? What models of value are implied by this project? What was the Impact of the work?
The artwork was presented at the Whitstable Biennale. The work was also exhibited in a in a solo show at Berwick Gymnasium Gallery (2004) and in a group show in the Macintosh Gallery at Glasgow School of Art (2005). The artist has given talks on the project nationally and internationally.
Links and Resources
www.justincarter.info
http://justincarterbrightsparks.blogspot.com/
http://www.crossover-uk.org/crossovers05/index_part.html
