A street monument/scupture in Accrington

Bob Dobson · 24-07-2011, 17:16

Last week I visited Nelson and in the centyre I saw a newly-erected piece iof 'sculpture' or 'art'. It takes the form of a 40ft high model of a weaver's shuttle. It is made out of iron which has gone a rusty colour. I don't usually like this rustuing, but it gives the shuttle the appearance of dark wood. It hasd a stainless steel cap and the centre, where the cop of cotton goes, it is lit up (at night) It is set in a sort of small amphitheatre. I liked it.
If Accrington had such a sculpture, what form would it take? A shuttle is very symbolic, so we could have one of those. A giant acorn? An actual Lancashire loom made by Bulloughs? A small deer, a hind, if the Town Hal want to use the word Hyundburn rather than Accrington? A WW1 soldier?

Anybody else seen it?

Any other ideas to pass ionto HBC? The soldier might be the preferred choice in the short term, with the centenary of WW1 & the Pals' formation coming up, and with spending likely to be curtailed.

It is being officially opened in August by Tony Livesey of the BBC, a former Nelson Leader reporter. Forgetting the mayor or any councillors, who would we get to 'open' it. Retlaw? The Chief of the Armed Services? The Colonel of the Queen's Lancaster Regt? William & Kate?

Retlaw · 24-07-2011, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

Last week I visited Nelson and in the centyre I saw a newly-erected piece iof 'sculpture' or 'art'. It takes the form of a 40ft high model of a weaver's shuttle. It is made out of iron which has gone a rusty colour. I don't usually like this rustuing, but it gives the shuttle the appearance of dark wood. It hasd a stainless steel cap and the centre, where the cop of cotton goes, it is lit up (at night) It is set in a sort of small amphitheatre. I liked it.
If Accrington had such a sculpture, what form would it take? A shuttle is very symbolic, so we could have one of those. A giant acorn? An actual Lancashire loom made by Bulloughs? A small deer, a hind, if the Town Hal want to use the word Hyundburn rather than Accrington? A WW1 soldier?

Anybody else seen it?

Any other ideas to pass ionto HBC? The soldier might be the preferred choice in the short term, with the centenary of WW1 & the Pals' formation coming up, and with spending likely to be curtailed.

It is being officially opened in August by Tony Livesey of the BBC, a former Nelson Leader reporter. Forgetting the mayor or any councillors, who would we get to 'open' it. Retlaw? The Chief of the Armed Services? The Colonel of the Queen's Lancaster Regt? William & Kate?

Another of thi ideas, we once had a steam engine, but thats gone rusty, all thats left is a gear wheel at bottom of Ormerod St.
As for the statute of a WW1 soldier, who's gonna pay for that unless, we nick one off Haslingden, or Clayton's Memorial's, then we'd have to have numerous committee's to decide where to put it.
The last committee were supposed to design a horse, and finished up with a camel.
If tha prepared to roll thi sleeves up I can show thi how to make, mold, and cast a bronze statue, cost a bit of brass just furt materials, besides 1/2 ton of coke to melt the metal.
Retlaw.

Margaret Pilkington · 24-07-2011, 19:58

I'd rather have the flagstones made safe.
I am not a big fan of street art. Everyone has different ideas about what ART is........and on my travels I can't say I have seen any modern stuff that has made me think....Wow, wish we had that in Accrington.

heth · 24-07-2011, 20:12

I thought the same Marg, instead of spending money on pieces of metal sort our other problems out first.

Its sometimes lethal walking around town for a young un like me-self (

)never mind older people who have difficulty walking.

Neil · 24-07-2011, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I'd rather have the flagstones made safe.

Which flagstones are not safe? I have not noticed them myself I don't walk all over town.

Neil · 24-07-2011, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by heth

Its sometimes lethal walking around town for a young un like me-self .....

Your having a laugh

Bob Dobson · 24-07-2011, 20:44

Try to keep to the thread Neil. You're taking it on the downward path.

heth · 24-07-2011, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Your having a laugh

Says the old sod! Jealous thats what it is!!

I agree with Bob keep on the thread!!

Margaret Pilkington · 24-07-2011, 21:12

Neil, there are quite a few, more noticeable in the wet when they shoot water up your trouser leg.

cashman · 24-07-2011, 21:15

i quite like street sculptures n the like, but its a matter of priorities,as others have said, so it don't come very high on my list, but if accy were to have one,i would suggest a big penis, fer all the dickheads that collect in front of the market hall.

Retlaw · 24-07-2011, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

i quite like street sculptures n the like, but its a matter of priorities,as others have said, so it don't come very high on my list, but if accy were to have one,i would suggest a big penis, fer all the dickheads that collect in front of the market hall.

Im with you on that Cashy, but quite a lot don't frequent the front of the market hall, some are in the building next to it, it would also be a good place to display britcliffe's medal.
Retlaw.

Neil · 25-07-2011, 01:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

Try to keep to the thread Neil. You're taking it on the downward path.

People disagreed with your idea and said the money would be better spent repairing flags. Do you not like being disagreed with?

katex · 25-07-2011, 06:54

BBC News - Nelson's giant shuttle sculpture lifted into place

I think this is terrific and, unlike Margaret, would have loved to have seen this in the centre of Accrington .. well done Nelson.

There will always be opinions about money better spent on 'this and that', but any feature that makes a town centre more aesthetically beautiful is money well spent. Art will always be subjective, of course, and you cannot please everyone, but something depicting our past industries (perhaps calico printing), would please me.

Don't like the idea of a soldier ... we have the war memorials dotted around Hyndburn which more than honours our heroes.

cashman · 25-07-2011, 07:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

BBC News - Nelson's giant shuttle sculpture lifted into place

I think this is terrific and, unlike Margaret, would have loved to have seen this in the centre of Accrington .. well done Nelson.

There will always be opinions about money better spent on 'this and that', but any feature that makes a town centre more aesthetically beautiful is money well spent. Art will always be subjective, of course, and you cannot please everyone, but something depicting our past industries (perhaps calico printing), would please me.

Don't like the idea of a soldier ... we have the war memorials dotted around Hyndburn which more than honours our heroes.

Whilst i like street sculptures,please explain how in these times its money well spent?

katex · 25-07-2011, 07:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

Whilst i like street sculptures,please explain how in these times its money well spent?

Because anything that helps to make a town more interesting can only be of benefit.

It looks like this was a separate funding to improve their town centre, and maybe they have spent some of it on improving walkways, etc ?
This was only a small part of the £2.1 million budget granted.

It's like the flower towers .. people have grumbled about the money spent on these, but you have to admit, does liven the borough up, and helps to make visiting more pleasant.