Cottonopolis

ChewTheFloat.

ProposaltoexhibitLumenMemoria.

RichardDawson,

60StamfordRoad,

Mossley,

OL50BG.

rdawson101@hotmail.com

07932050926

Cottonopolis.ChewTheFloat.

RichardDawsonrdawson101@hotmail.com07932050926

ProposalforVictoriaBaths

The Victoria Baths were one of the first municipal buildings in Manchester to utilizeelectric lightingandincandescentbulbs. InresponsetothisIproposetoexhibitLumenMemoria,amemorialtotheseubiquitousmarvelsofVictoriantechnology.

AboutThePiece

The Lumen Memoria installation consists of 100 incandescent light bulbs suspendedfromatimberframe.Thebulbsarecontrolledbyanumberofdimmerswitchesdrivenbysteppermotorstoslowlyilluminateandthenfadeinrandomsequencesandgroupsevokingaquasi‐religiousairofmemorialandmemory.The installation isaccompaniedbyasoundscapeofcontactmicrecordingsofthebulbs‘chiming’tolifeandelectrichum.

Concept

The installation responds to the idea of the old, forgotten and abandoned spacesthrough the usage of the ‘extinct technologies’ of incandescent bulbs and by evokingfeelingsofamemorialandsacredspace.IpicturetheVictoriaBathsbeinga‘cathedral’toleisurewhentheywerebuiltandinuseandimaginethatalongwithaccesstobathingthattheelectricbulbsandfantastic(andnowsadlymissing)chandelierswerealsoanewandexcitingdrawforbathers.

TheincandescentlightbulbparallelstheVictoriaBathsassomethingelseofgreatbeautythat was created in the Victorian era and that has been undervalued and is nowthreatenedwithbecominglostorextinct.

Aestheticallythefeelandqualityof lightprovidedbythe installationwouldprovideanidealilluminationforthebeauty,coloursandtexturesoftheVictoriaBaths.

Siting

The installationwould ideally be situated in the Russian Sauna and Shower Rooms asthese offer the best opportunities for suspension and support for the structure,alternatelysitingwithinoneofthebasementroomsifallowed,wouldsuitthe‘aura’ofthepiece.

Practicalconsiderations

The installationwould ideallybesuspendedfromexistingceiling fittings if the locationallows. If thiswerenotpossibledue to thenatureof thebuilding Iwould construct asupportstructuredesignedtosuittheaestheticofthelocation.

Theinstallationrequirestwomainssockets.

Afullriskassessmentcanbesupplied.

AllworkiscoveredbypublicandproductliabilityinsuranceandI’mBBCH&Strainedforsetconstruction.

Cottonopolis.ChewTheFloat.

RichardDawsonrdawson101@hotmail.com07932050926

Furtherinfo:

Examplesofmyworkareviewablehere:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21007707@N07/collections/

Andlumenmemoriavideoishere:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21007707@N07/sets/72157613078227006/

orviathelinksat:

www.arbarus.co.uk

Publicity

I’mcurrentlypressofficerforWoodendArtistsandwouldliketooffersupportpublicizingtheeventthroughournetworkandcontactlists.

Ifyourequireanyfurtherinfoorwouldliketodiscussanydetailsoftheproposalpleasedonothesitatetogetintouchviardawson101@hotmail.comor07932050926.

Manythanks,

Richard.