Thanks to my talented friend Beth, of Sol Design Lab, I always get to take part in the crazy-making that is South by Southwest. I’m shocked at how big the festival has gotten and can’t help but wonder when and if it will ever stop growing. Beth is the inventor of the SolarPump, a free-standing solar charging station, that music festivals across the globe has fallen in love with. 3 years ago, I helped her install the first pump outside the convention center and now, she runs a whole sponsored “green zone” for the SXSW. This year, with Brita was the sponsor and provided free reusable water bottles and filling stations in what was dubbed the “Urban Oasis”. In addition to the solar charging stations, Brita asked Sol Design Lab to create a relevant, interactive art installation. What followed was a giant amorphus sculpture made from plastic bottles lit up with colored LED lights. We stuffed the bottles into hexagon tiles and then tied them to a wooden skeleton with zip ties. It looked like an bright, crazy igloo, and it was awesome! Here’s a daytime picture…nighttime pic coming soon…