Abstract
A new public artwork is being installed in All Saints Grosvenor Square, thanks to European funding (ERDF) for public realm improvements on the Corridor.
The public artwork commissioned for the Park promotes an environmental sustainability theme. Professor John Hyatt (Director of Miriad, MMU) and Dr Craig Martin of the Manchester School of Architecture have made a series of solar-powered sculptures based on the concept of the firefly which were briefly captured in jars briefly by children and informed by research into the insect and how it achieves its flashing light.
Powered by the sun, the Fireflies flash in four colours (red, green, white and yellow) whilst also emitting three notes tuned to F, C and G, the 12-bar basis of a million popular songs. They are totally green with components that can be used again and are activated by the light of their environment.
‘What is life? It is the flash of the firefly at night… it is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset’
(Chief Crowfoot, Blackfoot chief)
The public artwork commissioned for the Park promotes an environmental sustainability theme. Professor John Hyatt (Director of Miriad, MMU) and Dr Craig Martin of the Manchester School of Architecture have made a series of solar-powered sculptures based on the concept of the firefly which were briefly captured in jars briefly by children and informed by research into the insect and how it achieves its flashing light.
Powered by the sun, the Fireflies flash in four colours (red, green, white and yellow) whilst also emitting three notes tuned to F, C and G, the 12-bar basis of a million popular songs. They are totally green with components that can be used again and are activated by the light of their environment.
‘What is life? It is the flash of the firefly at night… it is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset’
(Chief Crowfoot, Blackfoot chief)
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Media of output | Online |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Fireflies in ManchesterTags: community lighting, Manchester, public space
Posted in Art | Comments Off on Fireflies in Manchester |
John Hyatt and Craig Martin have made a unique artwork for All Saints Park in central Manchester. Based on the concept of Fireflies caught briefly by children in jars and informed by research into the insect, a series of solar-powered sculptures hang in the trees above. These electronic Fireflies flash in four colours and play three harmonic notes. The creators believe that good design works in harmony with the intelligence of Nature, so rather than wasting resources they have made a permanent installation from reusable materials:
Keywords
- Fireflies
- Solar powered
- Harmonic sculptures
- Reusable materials
- Public realm
- Sustainability