Originally from Germany, metalworker Carl Neilbock has spent that last few decades reinvigorating his chosen home, Detroit.
“The first thing I saw when I came to Detroit was how those beautiful buildings were just like a woman without jewelry,” Neilbock told Hour Detroit. “I saw the need right away for my trade.”
He’s spent time renovating Detroit’s historic Fox Theater and offering an apprenticeship program for kids that were curious to learn the art of ironwork. Most recently, Neilbock has caused a rustle with his turbine project.
The CAN Art Wind Turbine Project marries upcycled art with sustainability. Using salvaged materials and colorful paint, Neilbock and his team created their first low-elevation turbines seven years ago, and they have since been outperforming industry standards and garnering awards.
“We are using our knowledge of metal to create Detroit’s sustainable future,” Neilbock says on his site.
Recently, the project was awarded a Knights Art Challenge grant, an initiative that promotes community growth through art. As part of the grant, the project must raise $25,000 on its own to bring the project fully to life.
The project’s goal will be installing two more turbine sites in the city—one that charges handheld devices and another that uses stormwater to irrigate urban crops. Through this project, Neilbock aims to “engage Detroiters, students, urban gardeners and others in the fabrication and installation processes and inspire them to further innovate the windmills.”
You can donate to their fundraiser campaign here, which will be running until March 10th.
Feature photo: TBD Magazine
