The Energizer City
When I think of energy the first word that comes to mind is dynamic. I like the word dynamic because it embodies energy with an ever-changing quality. It is true that energy can be stored and held still, but it is always with the intent of letting it loose later. Energy is a constantly changing entity; it is transferred, accumulated, discharged, and magnified. It is such a unique substance that it cannot actually be destroyed or created; only transferred between bodies.
When you walk through a city the presence of energy is undeniable. Not just the physical energy that powers our buildings and cars, but a more surreal energy that connects everything. I would like to define this energy as the energy of opportunity, and any city is overflowing with it. A city is a center of thought and activity. People are living and working in such close contact that their lives begin to intertwine. These people are the bodies that accumulate and discharge energy. Their everyday actions and decisions create an environment that allows for the free flow of energy. One person may use energy to do something that will transfer energy to another person who, in turn, will use that energy to influence someone else. I believe opportunity is a good way to define city energy, because in order for it to be used it must first be engaged. It is a conscious decision to actively seek it out and see how it will change your life. In this sense a city becomes an endless series of possibilities that are waiting to be discovered.
When it comes to capturing energy, I think that Andy Goldstein and his sculptures did an excellent job. All of his works seemed to spring right out of nature. It was in nature that he discovered an energy that we can never really understand. I think that his sculptures capture energy for two reasons. First, they are rooted in and interact with nature, which is an abundant source of energy. Second, many of them are not made to be permanent. This characteristic makes his sculptures literally dynamic. His creations move through the environment, continuously changing until they are eventually absorbed back into what they came from.
I think that Goldstein’s manifestations of energy can serve as a starting point to understanding the energy within a city. From seeing him work with his materials and create something unique I think we can begin to understand how energy flows. Whatever we choose to do with the energy that we are given will ultimately be up to us, and the consequences both good and bad will effect everyone around us.