Designer: John Kennedy of LandLab
Title: Halo
Date: September 2007
Place: Rossendale, Haslingden
Commissioners and Funders: The Northwest Regional Development Agency, the Lancashire Economic Partnership, the Northern Way, Arts Council England North West and Lancashire County Council.
'Halo' is one of four structures erected as a symbol of the renaissance of the East Lancashire areas. The structures are collectively known as Panopticons and include the Halo in Rossendale, the Singing Tree in Burnley, the Atom in Pendle and Colourfields in Blackburn. Each is intended to be a 21st Century landmark.
Halo is an 18m-diameter steel lattice structure supported on a tripod five meters above the ground. The core is open at the top, framing views of the sky. The steelwork has a natural silver appearance, which will temper to matt as the galvanised finish weathers.
The structure is sited on top of an old landfill. The site was earmarked for the Halo in 2004. The project was progressed by a steering group whose members included REMADE, Rossendale Borough Council, Rossendale Leisure Trust, Mid Pennine Arts, Groundwork Rossendale, and local members of the community. Lancashire County Council information states that extensive public consultation took place to gain local people’s views on the project.
The Halo is lit after dark and glows a sky-blue colour aiming to achieve the effect of hovering above the town. The lighting is powered by an adjacent wind turbine and is designed to minimise light pollution and avoid any disruption to wildlife.
'Halo' is positioned to be clearly visible from the M66 and A56 approach to Pennine Lancashire.
Coinciding with the launch ‘wildworks ran a community education project with local people. http://www.wildworks.biz/content/view/107/95/.
"During the day it is an impressive structure that has similarities to a UFO (apparently the area is a popular place for sightings), although it also looks like a communication device and has an affinity with the other masts, and mobile telecom towers nearby in the landscape."
Discuss the recent phenomenon of public art sites being visible from motorways and compare this idea to the traditional town or city square sited sculpture. Consider the Halo as well as other public art mentioned in this section; the Angel of the North, Big Art St Helens, and Light Neville Street.