Cottonopolis, Chew The Float proposal.

Cottonopolis Chew The Float.

Proposal to exhibit Lumen Memoria.

Richard Dawson, 60 Stamford Road, Mossley, OL5 0BG.

rdawson101@hotmail.com 07932 050926

Cottonopolis.

Chew The Float.

Proposal for Victoria Baths The Victoria Baths were one of the first municipal buildings in Manchester to utilize electric lighting and incandescent bulbs. In response to this I propose to exhibit Lumen Memoria, a memorial to these ubiquitous marvels of Victorian technology.

About The Piece The Lumen Memoria installation consists of 100 incandescent light bulbs suspended from a timber frame. The bulbs are controlled by a number of dimmer switches driven by stepper motors to slowly illuminate and then fade in random sequences and groups evoking a quasi‐religious air of memorial and memory. The installation is accompanied by a soundscape of contact mic recordings of the bulbs ‘chiming’ to life and electric hum.

Concept The installation responds to the idea of the old, forgotten and abandoned spaces through the usage of the ‘extinct technologies’ of incandescent bulbs and by evoking feelings of a memorial and sacred space. I picture the Victoria Baths being a ‘cathedral’ to leisure when they were built and in use and imagine that along with access to bathing that the electric bulbs and fantastic (and now sadly missing) chandeliers were also a new and exciting draw for bathers.

The incandescent light bulb parallels the Victoria Baths as something else of great beauty that was created in the Victorian era and that has been undervalued and is now threatened with becoming lost or extinct.

Aesthetically the feel and quality of light provided by the installation would provide an ideal illumination for the beauty, colours and textures of the Victoria Baths.

Siting The installation would ideally be situated in the Russian Sauna and Shower Rooms as these offer the best opportunities for suspension and support for the structure, alternately siting within one of the basement rooms if allowed, would suit the ‘aura’ of the piece.

Practical considerations The installation would ideally be suspended from existing ceiling fittings if the location allows. If this were not possible due to the nature of the building I would construct a support structure designed to suit the aesthetic of the location.

The installation requires two mains sockets.

A full risk assessment can be supplied.

All work is covered by public and product liability insurance and I’m BBC H&S trained for set construction.

Richard Dawson rdawson101@hotmail.com 07932 050926

Cottonopolis.

Chew The Float.

Further info: Examples of my work are viewable here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21007707@N07/collections/ And lumen memoria video is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21007707@N07/sets/72157613078227006/ or via the links at: www.arbarus.co.uk Publicity I’m currently press officer for Woodend Artists and would like to offer support publicizing the event through our network and contact lists.

If you require any further info or would like to discuss any details of the proposal please do not hesitate to get in touch via rdawson101@hotmail.com or 07932 050926.

Many thanks, Richard.

Richard Dawson rdawson101@hotmail.com 07932 050926