I've driven past it a couple of times, but have any of you been to look at the "Angel of the North" up close? For this is the weekend for me. Will I be disappointed though? Is it worthy of all the acclaim? And does anyone here know what I'm even talking about?

It's worth going to have a look at Colin although I think it is quite out of proportion. If they had made it out of aluminium, it would have stayed it's original colour, silver would have looked much better. If you are passing, it is just off the main road so easy to get to. It says on the website that it is Britains tallest structure. It probably was at the time but this has been overtaken by this monstrosity in Manchestern built next door to the Commonwealth Games stadium. It stands 52 metres tall and has been at the centre of controvosy ever since it opened. Bits have been falling off it and causing road closures. It's future is now in doubt.

For those who are interested, see here

I think the Angel of the North is quite impressive, and well worth a look. Again I agree with Jenny about the appalling 'B of the Bang', which ought to be called 'L of a Lump'.
However, Jenny, I think you would find that silver, which quickly tarnishes at the best of times also would not keep its colour (particularly given the dubious air quality around it in that industrial part of the world) nor would it keep its size and shape for long (silver is a valuable metal, you ought to know...in Liverpool it would shrink even more quickly).
...and where is Manchestern...? controvosy...?... I hope you have sobered up by tomorrow at 7.00 pm...

Ritz, I meant silver coloured not real silver And STOP being CONTOVERSHALL!!! about my typing.

You need a new trypewriter...

Thanks Jenny for the recommendation and help. Yes, I'll certainly stop off and take a look at it. And thanks both of you for the laughs

Isn't the point of the Angel of the North that you are supposed to see it from a distance ? Let's face it, seeing any modern art "installation" would be best done, if at all, in a glimpse from a speeding car ( ), but the Angel might, seriously, be best viewed from afar.

The artist is the man who installed a series of figures, all identical, life size, models of himself, on a beach. These stare out to sea. They make an effective and striking image. He has just finished an installation like that in London. These figures are positioned individually on the tops of buildings and at other high points. The installation certainly works but has one snag. People passing by look up and think that the figure is a real person contemplating suicide

Fair point, Fred. But how far is 'afar'? The closer one becomes by degrees, the more the sense of perspective varies, and the experience alters accordingly. Works of art produce changing impressions within the same observer from different angles and even in different lightings. 'The Angel of the North' can seem to be proud, glorious and inspiring on a warm clear, sunny day, whereas viewed through a dark and rainy atmosphere it takes on a hue of menace and threat.

Enough of this rapturous lyricism...

In stark contrast I found that the best way of viewing Tracey Emin's 'Unmade Bed', revealed in the White Cube Gallery over ten years ago, was by wearing dark glasses and observing it from the bottom of a Welsh coalmine, around midnight with all the lights off...

"Rapturous lyricism", gosh, I wish I'd said that. I love it Ritz. I'll report back on "The ANgel" when I've seen the thing this weekend, but now, as someone famous once said, to bed for I leave here tommorrow morning for the north of England.

Enjoy it Colin...the last of the lovely weather is apparently about to run out. It would seem that rain is imminent (well, Bank Holiday Monday is almost upon us, what's new)...

Talking of British sculptures, anyone heard about this one being built at the moment?
It's 8 miles south of Sheffield. I go that way quite often, I will have a look next week if I can see anything.

solar pyramid

Thanks, Jenny!
Hmmm... a most interesting construction, and one which I will make an effort to visit and explore. I wish that the people who write the texts for these pieces of information could use the English language properly, though. These are not typos (which should be proof-read, in any event) merely bad English...ah, well... where is Maiku when you need him?(!)
Next time you cross the Pennines, Jenny, find out what you can, and keep us posted. Cheers!

quote:

where is Maiku when you need him?(!)

Probably correcting Shakespeare.

It seems that your sculpure is being built close to Staveley, near Chesterfield, between Junctions 29 & 30 of the M1 (no, not actually ON the motorway, Jenny, to the west of it on the Staveley side) if I read correctly.
Keep us posted. (tried to edit my previous post but was just too late...)

Ha! How true, Juan...

Ritz, I did not say it was on the motorway. I said it was 8 miles to the south of Sheffield. You just cannot get the staff these days.
I am going over to Rotherham and Doncaster next Friday, I will drive further down if time permits and have a look.

I thought you guys in the UK, who are unsure about the merits of your Angel of the North, might like to see how bad things can get, given a little imagination and the determination to build something that puts your community on the map.


Roadside America

From dg's site, the world's largest catsup bottle (about 15 miles from where I live)

http://www.wlra.us/wl/wlcatsup.jpg

Edited to remove image, which is available at link provided.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,

quote:

Originally posted by DorianGreyed:
From dg's site, the world's largest catsup bottle (about 15 miles from where I live)

http://www.wlra.us/wl/wlcatsup.jpg

If we had proper planning authorities in Britain we too could have delights like this ! It represents the kind of thinking that we like about America

Edited to remove image, which is available at link provided.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,