Power lines, light bulbs and earth = art

Ok, you know when you walk under huge power lines and you can hear the buzzing? And the buzzing is louder at the larger transmission lines? Well, its not just buzzing coming off those lines. It's also electromagnetic radiation. Apparently this radiation can be harnessed and Richard Box, an artist in Bristol, devoted a project to it called Field. For the installation, he created thousands of Florescent bulbs and "planted" them in the ground around a huge power line, like stakes. The bulbs were carefully placed into the dirt, one at a time, unwired.

Here's where it gets crazy. When the electricity flowing through the lines reached a certain level, the bulbs in the ground pick up the excess energy emitted by powerlines and LIGHT UP. How totally crazy is that? They aren't plugged into anything.

Unfortunately, the exhibit appears to be over but you can read a little more about it here. There is supposed to be something like this in Nevada that uses the more natural electromagnetic energy found in the atmosphere around thunderstorms. Im going to have to look into that next. Meanwhile, check out some pictures of the crazy invisible energy art.


You can find more pictures on Richard's website.
Thanks to Pruned for this 'enlightening' craziness.