'Solar Oven' was designed, constructed and demonstrated in response to an invitation from Allan Giddy (Director, Environmental Research Initiative for Art, UNSW) to participate in the group project 'Desert Equinox', in Australia. An international group of artists explored issues surrounding climate change and sustainability through public art. Audience participation and awareness of contemporary art were identified as key challenges within the context of this project. My specific concept therefore developed out of this need to engage audiences directly within the ‘everyday’. The Solar Oven provided a movable ‘stepping-stone’ to many of the other exhibits in the project.