LED Throwies

A light emitting diode throwie is a small device that is often used in various forms of street art.

LED throwies are typically constructed of a colored LED, a battery, and a small rare earth magnet.

The simplest and most inexpensive type of LED throwie can be constructed simply by connecting an LED to a battery and then taping both to a rare earth magnet. This is usually achieved with electrical tape, though using an epoxy adhesive may result in better weather resistance.

The components used to construct basic LED throwies are typically inexpensive, potentially allowing a guerrilla artist to assemble a large number of them without a heavy financial investment.

Alterations to the basic design that add additional functionality may raise the cost of the throwies, and also increasing the time required to create them. In addition to being inexpensive and easily constructed, LED throwies can also be considered a type of non-destructive graffiti.

Many guerrilla artists and technology enthusiasts may choose to simply toss large numbers of LED throwies at the ferromagnetic surfaces of public structures. This can result in a bright, multi-colored type of light art that may be visually appealing in the dark.