Latest news with #ChristopherGriffin
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
LET CREATIVITY BLOOM! THE LEGO GROUP CONTINUES FREE 2025 CREATIVITY WORKSHOP SERIES WITH BOTANICALS-THEMED EVENTS
The Second Workshop of the Year Will be Held at Select LEGO Stores Across North America from 6/28-6/29 & is Available Online ENNFIELD, Conn., June 2, 2025 /CNW/ -- On the heels of a successful first event in April, The LEGO Group today announces its second iteration of the free, ongoing Creativity Workshop series for 2025, centered around the theme of Botanicals. The offerings uphold the LEGO Group's mission to ignite imagination and nurture valuable social skills through engaging online and in-store experiences for young creators aged 6 - 12. The upcoming workshops present options for both virtual and in-person participation, all free of charge. The online workshop, hosted by popular New York-based content creator Christopher Griffin, AKA Plant Kween, will live on the LEGO Group's website, and offer creative inspiration for making a variety of LEGO botanical structures on users' own terms. This is coupled with two live, in-store workshops where LEGO Brick Specialists will help young creatives put their own spin on a LEGO butterfly garden. Both guided, interactive experiences are designed to spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and foster a deeper appreciation for the beauty of plants and nature. Here are more details on the two ways to get involved: Creativity Workshops – Held at select LEGO Stores on Saturday, June 28 th and Sunday, June 29 th, this workshop invites young creators to explore the wonder of nature and botanicals by building their own butterfly garden, with expert guidance from LEGO Brick Specialists. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance at T&Cs apply. Creativity at Home Online Workshops – Led by content creator Plant Kween AKA Christopher Griffin, the Creativity at Home Workshop is now available to watch online. Christopher will demonstrate how to create nature-themed builds - a plant pot, vase, and desk plant that celebrate the beauty of botanicals. Join the fun starting today at Plant Kween, AKA Christopher Griffin, comments: "I've always felt a deep connection to nature, and love decorating my home with botanicals. I'm so excited about this opportunity to celebrate the joy and beauty that plants bring into our lives, one brick at a time. What makes this especially meaningful is seeing young people get involved, using their imaginations to build, explore, and develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world. It's hands-on, joyful learning that truly plants the seeds for creativity and connection." The Creativity Workshops are part of the LEGO Group's commitment to championing and standing up for girls' creativity, with different themes throughout the year including Friendship, Botanicals and Summer Fun. About the LEGO Group The LEGO Group's mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine. The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words Leg Godt, which mean "Play Well".
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LET CREATIVITY BLOOM! THE LEGO GROUP CONTINUES FREE 2025 CREATIVITY WORKSHOP SERIES WITH BOTANICALS-THEMED EVENTS
The Second Workshop of the Year Will be Held at Select LEGO Stores Across North America from 6/28-6/29 & is Available Online ENNFIELD, Conn., June 2, 2025 /CNW/ -- On the heels of a successful first event in April, The LEGO Group today announces its second iteration of the free, ongoing Creativity Workshop series for 2025, centered around the theme of Botanicals. The offerings uphold the LEGO Group's mission to ignite imagination and nurture valuable social skills through engaging online and in-store experiences for young creators aged 6 - 12. The upcoming workshops present options for both virtual and in-person participation, all free of charge. The online workshop, hosted by popular New York-based content creator Christopher Griffin, AKA Plant Kween, will live on the LEGO Group's website, and offer creative inspiration for making a variety of LEGO botanical structures on users' own terms. This is coupled with two live, in-store workshops where LEGO Brick Specialists will help young creatives put their own spin on a LEGO butterfly garden. Both guided, interactive experiences are designed to spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and foster a deeper appreciation for the beauty of plants and nature. Here are more details on the two ways to get involved: Creativity Workshops – Held at select LEGO Stores on Saturday, June 28th and Sunday, June 29th, this workshop invites young creators to explore the wonder of nature and botanicals by building their own butterfly garden, with expert guidance from LEGO Brick Specialists. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance at T&Cs apply. Creativity at Home Online Workshops – Led by content creator Plant Kween AKA Christopher Griffin, the Creativity at Home Workshop is now available to watch online. Christopher will demonstrate how to create nature-themed builds - a plant pot, vase, and desk plant that celebrate the beauty of botanicals. Join the fun starting today at Plant Kween, AKA Christopher Griffin, comments: "I've always felt a deep connection to nature, and love decorating my home with botanicals. I'm so excited about this opportunity to celebrate the joy and beauty that plants bring into our lives, one brick at a time. What makes this especially meaningful is seeing young people get involved, using their imaginations to build, explore, and develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world. It's hands-on, joyful learning that truly plants the seeds for creativity and connection." The Creativity Workshops are part of the LEGO Group's commitment to championing and standing up for girls' creativity, with different themes throughout the year including Friendship, Botanicals and Summer Fun. To watch online now and purchase a ticket to attend an in-store Creativity Workshop at a LEGO store near you, visit About the LEGO Group The LEGO Group's mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine. The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words Leg Godt, which mean "Play Well". Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. Its products are now sold in more than 120 countries worldwide. For more information: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The LEGO Group View original content to download multimedia:
Entrepreneur
14-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Future-Proofing Energy Sector: Hover Energy Confirms that Microgrids Are the Answer to Transforming Power Delivery
For over a century, the global power grid has remained largely unchanged. Built at a time when centralized power plants and fossil fuels dominated, today, the traditional grid system is failing to keep up with the demands of modern society. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. That is why Hover Energy, the inspiration of Christopher Griffin (Chris), has been flipping the script since 2015 on how electricity is generated and consumed. Its mission is bold yet necessary: to make microgrids the primary source of energy, relegating the centralized utility grid to a backup role. Instead of a one-size-fits-all energy model dependent on large, inefficient grids, Hover envisions a world powered by tens of thousands of independent, self-sustaining microgrids—each tailored to its environment, optimized for efficiency, and fully integrated with cutting-edge renewable technologies. This renewable energy power generation company's solution is simple yet revolutionary: shift the grid from being the primary energy source to a secondary backup system. By creating microgrids that integrate multiple renewable energy sources, Hover enables businesses, communities, and individuals to take control of their energy production. This decentralized approach not only ensures stability and resilience but also reduces dependence on fossil fuels, driving a global shift toward sustainability. "We're not just talking about improving the grid—we're redefining the entire system," says Chris. "The traditional grid is like an old mainframe computer—it's outdated, inflexible, and inefficient. We need an energy model that matches the speed of modern innovation, and that's exactly what we've built." At the core of Hover's mission are two groundbreaking technologies: the Hover Microgrid and the Microgrid Management System™. Hover's Wind-Powered Microgrid™ is customized based on two key factors: the client's specific energy needs and the natural renewable energy resources available at that location. The microgrid seamlessly combines wind, solar, and energy storage to deliver reliable, round-the-clock power. Mounted along the windward edges of buildings, Hover's wind turbine arrays generate energy 24/7, while solar panels installed in optimal locations maximize daytime energy capture. This hybrid system produces more power per square foot than standalone solar or wind solutions, ensuring efficiency and reliability. At the heart of the system is Hover's Intelligent Integrated Energy Management System (IEMS), which has become the Microgrid Management System™ that optimizes and combines both AC (wind) and DC (solar) energy into a single, stable power stream. This ensures a smooth and efficient flow of electricity, whether the microgrid is operating independently or supplementing grid power. A microgrid is only as powerful as the system managing it. Hover's Microgrid Management System™ is designed to seamlessly integrate any energy source—whether it's wind, solar, hydrogen fuel cells, batteries, or even the future technologies that haven't been invented yet. This level of flexibility ensures that Hover's microgrids are truly future-proof. "The biggest problem with most energy systems today is that they lock you into a single source of power. What happens when better technology emerges in five years? Do you have to rip everything out and start over? Our Microgrid Management System™ eliminates that problem by making it easy to plug in new energy sources as they develop. It's the ultimate flexible energy solution," explains Chris. "If I'm in a place with a waterfall, I should use hydroelectric power. If I'm in a desert, then I need to harness solar energy. If I'm in a windy region, wind power makes sense. The point is that energy is all around us—we just need the right tools to capture and use it. That's what Hover provides." Chris has truly foreseen every possible angle. Microgrid Management System™ has partnered with and integrated WatsonX AI technology into its system, allowing real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated compliance with jurisdictional regulations. This AI-driven system enables clients to track and report their carbon reduction progress in real time, helping businesses achieve 'real zero' emissions goals. Hover's vision is not just about making energy more efficient—it's about shifting society's mindset from passive consumers to active producers of energy. For decades, people have depended entirely on the centralized grid, much like a child depends on a parent. But there comes a point in life where one transitions from being a taker to being a giver—from consuming resources to contributing to a larger system. Hover's mission is to transform the world's energy landscape, one microgrid at a time. Its goal is to make decentralized energy systems as common as WiFi routers, allowing businesses, homes, and entire communities to generate, store, and use their own power without dependency on the grid. By doing this at scale, Hover is not only future-proofing energy innovation but also ensuring a more resilient, secure, and sustainable world. The centralized utility grid, once the backbone of modern civilization, is now being redefined as a backup system. And with the rapid adoption of microgrids, the future of energy is no longer just a concept—it's happening now. And Hover is not waiting for change. It is leading it.
CBC
11-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
P.E.I. vet college admits mistake for asking artist to remove painting based on U.S. politics
Social Sharing The Atlantic Veterinary College has apologized to its former artist-in-residence who quit after being asked to take down a painting he says was censored by the Charlottetown institution due to its political message. In a statement, the college acknowledged that asking Christopher Griffin to choose between removing his painting, The Crossing, or leaving his residency "was a mistake." "The decision did not reflect our institutional values, and we regret the hurt and frustration it caused. Art plays an essential role in education and public life — it challenges us, encourages dialogue, and fosters understanding," the statement reads. "We fell short of our responsibility to protect that role." Painting received 3 complaints Griffin, who moved to Prince Edward Island from Ottawa in 2023, became the regional college's first-ever artist-in-residence last November. The unpaid position gave him the opportunity to brighten up some of the UPEI-based college's community spaces. While animals are a recurring theme in his work, Griffin said his focus shifted starting in January when Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president for the second time and launched a trade war with many countries, including Canada. 'Expressions of concern' lead Charlottetown college officials to tell artist his painting must go 1 day ago Duration 2:58 Christopher Griffin had been enjoying his stint as artist-in-residence at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown. Then a painting he created in reaction to Donald Trump's recent statements and actions about Canada caused a stir. Administration officials asked him to remove 'The Crossing' (detail shown) from the walls of the college, where about a third of faculty and students are American, because of three 'expressions of concern.' CBC's Wayne Thibodeau reports. One of his recent works, The Crossing, shows a boat full of lemmings carrying a crumpled and discoloured U.S. flag across an icy northern Canadian waterway. The college said it received three complaints about the painting, including two from American faculty members. The AVC's dean, Dominique Griffon, told CBC News on Wednesday that Griffin had recently started creating more "politically charged" art, which did not align with the original vision for the artist-in-residence program. So Griffin was asked to remove The Crossing immediately, according to a statement he posted on Facebook. He refused. Griffon said it was the artist's decision to instead leave the residency. Many students, faculty and Islanders turned to social media to express disappointment with the administration asking Griffin to remove the artwork. A thank-you card at the college signed by students and staff includes messages of support for the artist. Artist accepted apologies The college said it has offered a direct apology to Griffin and offered to reinstall the painting in a prominent campus location. The university has also invited Griffin to come and speak about his work. "We are also reviewing our internal processes to ensure future decisions uphold our commitments to free expression and inclusive discourse," the statement reads. "We remain committed to creating space for meaningful conversations — even, and especially, when they are uncomfortable." In an Instagram post, Griffin said he has accepted apologies from both AVC and UPEI, and agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion at the university where he will speak about his work. "A huge silver lining is that this event has revealed the deep passion Canadians feel for our country and the values we hold sacred, including the freedom of expression," Griffin wrote. "Canada finds herself in troubled times, but my faith in our people has never been greater. We are strong together."
CBC
10-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'Expressions of concern' lead Charlottetown college officials to tell artist his painting must go
Christopher Griffin had been enjoying his stint as artist-in-residence at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown. Then a painting he created in reaction to Donald Trump's recent statements and actions about Canada caused a stir. Administration officials asked him to remove 'The Crossing' (detail shown) from the walls of the college, where about a third of faculty and students are American, because of three 'expressions of concern.' CBC's Wayne Thibodeau reports.
