Def: n. a structure, space or device providing a comprehensive or panoramic view

The Panopticons are four large-scale sculptures commissioned and installed across East Lancashire and they dominate their respective sites. They are an arts and regeneration project of the East Lancashire Environmental Arts Network managed by Mid Pennine Arts. I’d heard marvellous things about the project and decided that a great way to spend an idle Saturday would be to visit all four.

The Singing Ringing Tree
My odyssey began high up on the moors above Burnley at Crown Point. As the wind whistled over my head, I had to concede that the location was perfect for this Panopticon, aptly named “The Singing Ringing Tree”. Any older readers may remember “The Singing Ringing Tree” from TV in the 60’s and 70’s. It was an East German fairy tale which, in equal proportions, baffled and scared most of us young viewers. The sculpture, however, is neither baffling nor scary. It’s a joy to behold.

Image copyright: Rob Horsefield

The Singing Ringing Tree is a musical sculpture designed by architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu of Tonkin liu. A series of metal pipes have been formed into a shape of a tree, bending in the wind. Now comes the really clever bit. Being so high up, the wind whistles melodiously through the pipes, creating a sound that is both haunting, yet hypnotic. Spend time looking at the spectacular scenery and let the sculptures haunting melody enter your subconscious. You’ll be spellbound as indeed I was.

The Atom
A leisurely drive through the beautiful Lancashire countryside, 8 miles from Crown Point, brings you to Wycoller Country Park. Once again, I followed the directions to a car park from where to view “The Atom”. It’s sited on a ledge overlooking the country park and, yet again, the views of the Pendle scenery are stunning. Nick Hunt, Director of Mid Pennine Arts and Master of Ceremonies at the launch event, commented, “'Atom' highlights one of the most beautiful rural settings in Lancashire. We hope it will encourage a wider public to discover Wycoller and from there to go on and explore the delights of the surrounding countryside.”

At first sight, The Atom can seem so out of place, so incongruous amongst the rolling Lancashire hills. Yet the more you look, the more appropriate the site seems for this work of art. This egg-shaped bronze-coated structure was designed by Peter Meacock with Katarina Novomestska and Architecture Central Workshop. When I visited, the Atom was being battered by the wind and rain. However, and this is the ingenious part the Atom is hollow, allowing the visitor to take refuge from the elements. Once safely ensconced within the structure, there are apertures for viewing the stunning Lancashire scenery. Inside the Atom there is, naturally enough, the nucleus. It’s a steel ball reflecting all before it and seemingly, bringing the outside scenery in. With the rain lashing down and the wind buffeting the structure I was completely enveloped in my secure cocoon, safe from the outside world.

Colourfields
“Color Field painting is characterized primarily by large fields of flat, solid colour, spread across or stained into the canvas; creating areas of unbroken surface and a flat picture plane.” This extract, lifted verbatim, from Wikipedia, may accurately describe where Jo Rippon Architecture and artist Sophie Smallhorn got their inspiration for their installation, “Colourfields” in Blackburn.
From an old gun battery in Corporation Park, they have created two viewing platforms inspired, they say, by the hill palaces of India. Beautifully coloured walkways, stretch along the viewing platforms and take you to survey the whole panorama that is Blackburn. Now here, if I may, I must offer an opinion that may upset the designers, artists and supporters of Colourfields. They have installed the viewing platforms high over Blackburn… but not high enough to see the full vista because the view is obstructed by trees. Ok, I know trees are a thing of beauty in themselves but why install a panoramic viewing platform in a site that can’t see the whole outlook? The concept behind Colourfields is brilliant and the artists and public should be rewarded with a magnificent sweeping view of the town. I’m afraid I was left a little cold and disheartened. But, its art and art brings opinions to it’s heavy table and this is just my contribution to the feast.

Haslingden Halo
A mere 10 miles from the Singing Ringing Tree is the Lancashire town of Haslingden, home of the Halo. The sculpture is a huge steel lattice structure supported on a tripod five metres above the ground and, to my mind, resembles a 1950’s UFO depicted in so many Sci-Fi magazines of the time. I’m convinced the halo has just landed from some distant galaxy and the occupants have settled in to a life of Lancashire bliss, happily scoffing hotpot and quaffing decent ale. It’s no wonder they don’t wish to return to their home planet!

Picture by kind permission of: leyland_locals

My first visit to the sculpture was during daylight hours and whilst being impressive, it’s after dark that the sculpture comes into its own. At night, it is illuminated by low-energy LEDs powered by an adjacent wind turbine. No light pollution, no precious fossil fuels consumed. The LEDs glow a sky-blue colour, giving the halo an effect of landing high above the town. The sculpture has been cleverly sited to be clearly visible from the M66 and A56 approach to Lancashire. It was designed by John Kennedy of LandLab and it’s magnificent.

So, if you find yourself in East Lancashire and are at a loss what to do with yourselves, you could do far worse than visit the Panopticons. They’re all easily accessible by road and you could visit all four in a day, as I did. If you’re using public transport, ok, it’ll take longer but it’d be a good project for that week off when you’ve nothing planned. You might even get to see one of the Haslingden aliens enjoying a quiet pint in a traditional Lancashire pub. If you do, say “hello” to them from me and let them know their craft is quite safe and being looked after by the art loving public of East Lancashire.

Image copyright: Rob Horsefield

More about the Panopticons

robhaich@gmail.com

www.flickr.com/photos/longsidepies/

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