SmartFlower in Bronzeville: A Bloom of Art, Energy, and Hope

April 29, 2025

In the vibrant Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, a flower has blossomed that doesn’t just add beauty to the community garden, it powers the future. It’s called the SmartFlower™, a cutting-edge solar energy device designed to mimic the natural elegance of a sunflower while providing clean, sustainable energy. Installed at The Renaissance Collaborative (TRC), the SmartFlower exists at the unique intersection of technology, art, and community development.

But what is the purpose of this vibrant solar bloom? How does it serve not only as a clean energy solution, but also as a work of art that inspires sustainability and uplifts Bronzeville? This blog explores the impact of the SmartFlower and why it stands as a symbol of progress and innovation.

What Is the SmartFlower?

The SmartFlower is not your typical solar panel. It’s a photovoltaic (PV) system, which converts sunlight into electricity using solar panels. However, unlike traditional flat-panel solar arrays, the SmartFlower is designed to open and close like a flower. Each morning, it unfurls its petals to face the sun and follows its path throughout the day using a dual axis tracking system. And at sunset, it gently folds back into its base.

This design isn’t just for show. By following the sun’s rays all day long, the SmartFlower generates up to 40% more energy than conventional solar panels. Capable of producing up to 6,500 kWh of electricity per year, it provides a powerful, efficient, and sustainable energy solution that’s also aesthetically pleasing.

SmartFlower as Living Art: Purpose Beyond Power

One of the most remarkable aspects of the SmartFlower is how it exists as a piece of public art. Its sculptural design makes it a focal point in any environment, drawing people in with its elegance and engineering. But beyond beauty, it sparks conversations about sustainability and clean energy accessibility.

In Bronzeville, where the SmartFlower is installed at The Renaissance Collaborative, this isn’t just technology. It’s a visual and symbolic representation of renewal. It’s very presence communicates purpose — to educate, to empower, and to uplift. It shows that clean energy can be functional and beautiful, that technology can serve both the environment and the people.

Art has long served as a medium for social commentary and transformation, and in this case, the SmartFlower acts as an educational gateway. With added signage and a nearby charging station, it serves as a public learning tool for residents and visitors alike to engage with the future of clean energy.

The Renaissance Collaborative: Building a Sustainable Future

The Renaissance Collaborative (TRC) is a nonprofit organization rooted in community development and sustainability. Located in the restored Wabash Avenue YMCA, a building rich in African-American history—TRC provides supportive housing, employment programs, and educational services to underserved populations in Chicago’s South Side.

The SmartFlower at TRC was initially installed in 2018 through a collaboration between Mohawk Group, Groundswell, Elevate, and other partners committed to environmental justice and clean energy access. Although the device was damaged a few years after installation, the manufacturer, Smartflower in partnership with Elevate and ComEd, agreed to repair the unit free of charge. This repair includes not only hardware updates but additional enhancements such as educational signage, a public charging station, and connectivity for remote monitoring.

The installation at TRC was the first in a national series of ten SmartFlower units installed near educational institutions and community-based organizations. Each SmartFlower installation is part of a broader movement to merge clean energy with community upliftment.

Sustainability and Resilience in Bronzeville

Bronzeville is a community with a deep legacy of cultural richness and resilience. Yet like many urban areas, it has faced systemic challenges, including underinvestment in infrastructure and access to renewable energy. The SmartFlower installation addresses these disparities by bringing high-visibility, high-impact technology directly into the community.

The electricity generated by the SmartFlower helps power TRC’s headquarters and the charging station in their community garden. The energy savings created by the SmartFlower reduce utility costs for TRC, allowing more resources to be allocated toward housing, job training, and other essential services. This alignment of clean energy with social impact is what makes the SmartFlower truly revolutionary.

An Educational Hub for STEM and Sustainability

As part of its mission, TRC aims to foster STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in the community. The SmartFlower plays an integral role in this vision. With its futuristic design and real-time data tracking, the device serves as a hands-on educational resource for students, residents, and visitors.

Educational signage around the SmartFlower explains how solar energy works and outlines its benefits. Public QR codes lead to online resources and live performance data, making learning interactive and accessible. T

By transforming a simple solar device into a platform for education and inspiration, the SmartFlower helps pollinate knowledge and curiosity, spreading the seeds of clean energy awareness throughout the community.

A Model for Fair and Balanced Clean Energy

The SmartFlower at TRC demonstrates what can be achieved when innovative technology is combined with thoughtful community planning. Too often, clean energy solutions are implemented in wealthier areas while disinvested communities are left behind. This project flips that script.

By installing state-of-the-art solar technology in a historically under-resourced area, the project champions clean energy. It ensures that Bronzeville residents benefit from the same innovations that are reshaping other parts of the country. It also signals that community members deserve access to the tools, resources, and infrastructure needed to thrive in a changing environment.

This installation also supports the mission of organizations like Elevate, which is dedicated to making clean energy affordable and accessible, especially in communities that have traditionally had fewer opportunities to benefit from such advancements.

Uplifting Bronzeville, One Petal at a Time With the SmartFlower

As Bronzeville continues to grow, evolve, and shine, the SmartFlower remains a powerful symbol of transformation. It represents more than watts and kilowatts, it represents progress, creativity, and hope.

The collaboration between Mohawk Group, TRC, Groundswell, Elevate, and others reflects what can happen when public art, clean technology, and community-focused design come together. It shows that innovation can be beautiful, and that sustainability can be both practical and poetic.

Ultimately, the SmartFlower is more than a clean energy solution. It is an emblem of what it means to invest in people, in places, and in the planet. It’s not just about how it works, it’s about what it stands for.

And in Bronzeville, it stands tall, following the sun and lighting the way forward.

SmartFlower in Bronzeville – Key Takeaways

SmartFlower™ is a solar device that tracks the sun, generating up to 40% more energy than traditional panels.
Installed at TRC in Bronzeville, it blends clean energy, public art, and community impact.
Powers a public charging station and reduces utility costs, supporting local programs.
Serves as an educational tool with real-time data and STEM-focused signage.
Champions clean energy equity by bringing innovation to an under-resourced neighborhood.