Description: Six vertical stainless steel poles, arranged in two lines of three. At the top of the poles is a horizontal grid the main struts of which are fastened at one end and slung by a spring at the other. To these struts are welded a horizontal roof of essentially triangular shapes; these all have one curved side, which can be either concave or convex. The whole structure is set on a square stone flagged area, which is badly in need of basic gardening. One or two of the leaf-like triangular forms look as if they have been bent and the whole structure is overgrown at one side by an adjacent tree.
Commission: Manufactured in the Sculpture Department Workshops, Sheffield School of Art (now part of Sheffield Hallam University). A structural analysis (to allay safety concerns) was conducted by the Engineering Department at Sheffield City Polytechnic. The steel uprights, which were hollow were filled after installation with a special concrete to increase the strength of this part of the structure.
The steel was donated by the British Steel Corporation. no details of the brief and commissioning of this artist are available at this stage.
Comment: The work was designed to be kinetic. The horizontal elements, which are finely balanced, will respond to the wind. The springs were incorporated to return the piece to the horizontal. The day the piece was surveyed was very still and the roof did not actually appear to move at all. The springs are rusty and may no longer allow movement to take place.
References: [1] Conversation with Howard Walker, ex-Head Technician, Sculpture Department, Sheffield Hallam University. [14/11/2003]
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