Co-Creating a New Future

Art of Dynamic Competence: Creating Success in Changing Times

In this episode, we are visiting with Elizabeth Monoian and Robert Ferry, founders of the non-profit Land Art Generator Initiative, also known by LAGi. LAGi was started in 2008 and has rapidly grown to become an international player in the conversations and solutions around our current transition to post-carbon economies.

The Land Art Generator’s goal is to accelerate the transition of energy landscape from traditional carbon-based fuels to renewables. The LAGI mission is to build new energy infrastructure that adds value to public spaces in ways that inspire and educate, all while providing equitable power to homes around the world.

Elizabeth and Robert are very clear that this transition, has been, and will continue to be incredibly challenging for a wide range of reasons, including the scale of the infrastructure changes that are needed as well as the visual impacts on the landscape of these changes. To accelerate this transition, we need to rethink the development process for renewable energy projects, so the built outcomes are a reflection of the culture and places within which they are located.

To this end, LAGi’s has focused on holding international design competitions that are linked to multigenerational, community-based education and art. Their approach is to build a bridge between communities, their existing policies, and renewable energy developers to accelerate the implementation process. Their projects span from the initial 2010 launch in Abu Dhabi, to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Melbourne Australia. US projects include New York City’s Freshkills Park, in partnership with Parks and Recreation, Santa Monica, CA, in partnership with the City, and the Black Rock Desert of Northern Nevada, in partnership with Burning Man Project.

LAGI’s process focuses on community co-creation as a means to directly address social justice issues in our communities as a means to accelerate the adoption and implementation of renewable energy projects. In each step, they fully engage community members, empowering them as decision makers and project ambassadors. With a wide range of age levels, they weave together technology education with art, what is now known as STEAM education.

In addition to corporate support, LAGi has also received a National Endowment of the Arts grant and has won an Innovation Prize from the JM Kapland Fund.

Most recently, they completed a design competition with the Burning Man Project for 10 iconic prototypes to be built at Fly Ranch as part of a long-term, sustainable community.