For more than a decade, Rein has been creating solar sculptures that produce energy from the sun and are scaled to provide the power for homes, museums, sculpture parks, arboretums, vineyards and public places. His work blends a commitment to traditional sculptural elements and materials with a dedication to 21st century solar technology, allowing every project to reflect its own unique sense of character.
"Solar Sunflower," "Solar Butterfly" and "Sun Bug"
Solar Sunflower - Medium: steel structure, alkyd-based enamel patina, 2 deep cycle marine batteries, charge controller, computerized scientific timer and solar monitoring system. Dimensions: (12’ on pedestal) 10’ x 8’ x 8’ / Solar Butterfly - Medium: Bronze body, aluminum wings, stone boulder, and electric motor. Dimensions: (6’ on pedestal) 2.77’ x 4.5' x 3.75' / Sun Bug - Medium: Bronze body, aluminum wings, stone boulder, and electric motor. Dimensions: 4.5’ (7.5’ on pedestal) x 4.3’ x 3.75’. / Butterfly and Bug sculptures' surfaces have wonderfully smooth hue-shifting colors. The wings move by electricity collected from the sun. Work Date: 2016. Site: Quaker Bridge Mall, Lawrenceville, N.J.
