PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

On Christmas Eve we decided to go on a Panopticon hunt after church, well it makes a change from coming home and having Sunday dinner doesn't it?

As we were already in Blackburn we went to look at that one first. Of course you have to know it's in Corporation Park because you can't actually see it from any part of Blackburn. You can't see it from most of Corporation Park either come to think of it but knowing it's at the top end off Revidge Road does help and it is signposted once you get inside the park. :D

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

In my capacity of Chauffer to the waffler, I was dragged along to view what was and still is in my opinion, a terrible waste of finances. I was totally unimpressed by either Panopticon but for the sake of Gayles sanity, had no urge to yet again put my opinions down on the Accyweb.............:)

However....

I feel that I must bring up the safety aspect regarding "Colour Fields" in Blackburn.:eek:

In the picture below, notice how the parapet hangs over the edge of a drop that is perhaps 15ft or so.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...6&d=1167221074


It is designed so that people can put their weight on the railings as they admire the views of Blackburns Industry.........


http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...7&d=1167221074



All that seems to be preventing them from plunging to the ground is 4 bolts:eek:

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...9&d=1167221074




There MAY be some type of mastic between the plates although there is no sign of any or welding as there are gaps that allow you to see right through...........and the scariest thing is that during the construction, they must have run out of washers as many of the bolts just have bog standard nuts fitted with no washers or other securing devices, a vandal with a basic tool set could render this Panopticon a deathtrap in moments :eek:

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Below the overhang is quite a steep slope too which is very slippery when wet so even when you walk down the steps at the opposite side you are on dangerous ground. Wouldn't it have been better to have a level area at the base so that those steps actually led down to something?

Maybe everyone else is afraid of commenting here. :D

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Blimey how cheap was the paint and carpet they used in Corporation Park?

I hope they kept the guarantee.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Thank you for sharing this expedition of yours with us, nice to see the things in the raw. The Blackburn one is a disgrace and in my eyes nothing but vandalism. The Burley one looks better in some of your photos Willow.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

i'm gonna venture up there sometime this week and see if it actually does sing

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not really willow if i go off on one about this,more afraid of getting banned.;)

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The Blackburn one looks like the entrance to an East German block of flats, fallen on hard times.

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I like the photographs of the Singing Ringing Tree, very atmospheric.

If there is fog, that means there is no wind, doesn't it? High atmospheric pressure, and all the precipition below 2,000 feet and all that, which would explain why it wasn't 'singing'.

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Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

the first one isnt bad but i thought these things were supposed to be wheel chair friendly , all a person in a wheelchair will get a view of is the steps

2nd on is exactly why people dont want anything on the coppice , it sticks out like a sore thumb , ruins teh scenery and to be frank a peice of sh1t that some halfwit will have gotten paid thousands to design and stick a label on it saying " this is art"

infact i think i made somthing similar with lollypop sticks when i was in juniour school but smaller :D

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

You went to school?:eek: :D

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Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Brilliantly put and exactly my sentiments on both of 'em! What a scandal that public money is being wasted on complete and utter garbage like this!

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

I don't know where to start on this one.

Once the Panopticon is built it is 'handed' over to the council in who's area it resides. The Blackburn sign is a joke - I can't believe they didn't check the spelling! As for the maintenance - it's terrible that they haven't taken any care of it! It's dirty and needs a good clean. The railings are safe according to the council's health and safety. The railings were actually installed because of the council's health and safety department and I agree, they do detract from the design and style. As for wheelchair access, people in wheelchair's are able to get onto the structure, not just to the highest level of it which is perfectly acceptable and there are other examples where wheelchair users are unable to get to the very highest level.

In its defence - the cannon batteries were in an appalling state of repair and a dog had committed suicide by jumping off one of them - they would have been knocked down for health and safety reasons. The Panopticon repaired them and has allowed them to be kept for a while longer.

As for Burnley, in my opinion it's beautiful, it makes a wonderful eerie noise and judging by the number of people that are always up there it is doing its job.

Hyndburn has missed out big style. The Burnley design has been seen by people far and wide, it is attracting huge good publicity for Burnley and is part of the many regeneration projects going on in the town. It is attracting more money for the town and is having a positive effect.

Now I will agree that the design for Hyndburn wasn't suitable but by rejecting the whole project a whole lot more was rejected. If people had been able to say 'no' to the design but 'yes' to the principle of the thing then we could have worked with everyone to get the design that was appropriate for the town.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

I think the Burnley one looks ok but the one in Blackburn is a real eye sore.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

that one in blackburn reminds me of blackburn royal infirmary

yellow line to x-ray
red line to casualty etc :D

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

What's all this "huge good publicity" it's attracting? I haven't seen any sign of it. And how is it attracting more money to the town and having a "positive effect"?

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Hyndburn has missed out big style. The Burnley design has been seen by people far and wide, it is attracting huge good publicity for Burnley and is part of the many regeneration projects going on in the town. It is attracting more money for the town and is having a positive effect -------- sorry gayle thats complete Hogwash, i certainly dont feel ive missed out big style,and do not know anyone that does, and believe me ive asked a hell of a lot.cant speak about burnley,but i know lots of buisness people in blackburn who would argue with you about attracting more money.your into that and thats fair enough,but saying Hyndburn has missed out big style is way over the top.(just a point of view)

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

A dog jumped off the battery in Corporation Park, and committed suicide?

Now that would be a piece of performance art worthy of Marcel Duchamp.

If anyone has it on video I suspect you could get Art Council funding to show it in any gallery in the UK, on a perpetual loop. :D

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Perhaps it left a message, like the IRA prisoners used to on their cell walls.:eek:

Well if a Turner Prize winner can exhibit a painting using his excrement, and Gilbert and George can sell test tubes of their urine, a doggy pooh suicide letter could be considerd quite artistic.:D

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Those cannon batteries had some history behind them Gayle, they were used at the seige of Sevastopol in the Crimean War, many of the streets in Blackburn were named after the battles in the Crimean War. I doubt if streets will be named after the Panopticon.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

the photos speak for themselves cant you see the people queing up in their thousands with their pockets brimming with cash ready to spend

if it wasnt for willow and her family they would have probably been the only people this week if not year to actualy visit it from out of town, although i dare say they both have provided a nice spot for walkers to let their dogs urinate ( the thingies not willow and co lol )

ime fed up with arguing the obvious so in short all these things attract are vandals and dog urine

if a town wants to better its self it shoudlnt be relying on bribes to stick monstrocities in our beauty spots but should have a compatant council for starters that dosnt blow 10x the amount these people offer in bribes on getting broadway ALMOST right and mayor swearing in ceromonies at 50 thousand pounds a throw was it?

ime pretty sure the more knowledgable of our councils money wasting can throw a few more hundred thousand pounds worth of examples on money wasted that could have bettered our town

ahh cant beat a good old argument about the word i cant even remember how its spelt or even care to check how its spelt hell i cant even pronounce it :)

potomoa thingy - was that close ?

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

I think a really good money spinner for the Singing Ringing Tree would be to manufacture small models of same to put in your garden .. might drive yer neighbours crazy, but interesting nevertheless .. anybody wish to join me in this business proposition ?

Course it could be mistaken for the neighbour from hell you have just buried. :D

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Errmmm, sorry to have to be the one to break this news to you Gayle, but has it ever occured to you that the hordes of folk at Crown Point might be there for some other reason than appreciation of "art"? The place has the reputation of being a rendezvous where both the straight and gay community meet for al fresco sexual encounters.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

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They'll need to take a rubber sheet to sit on, at the very least, it's lashing down.:eek:

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And the wind !!! Those pipes will surely be singing a great chorus today .. that'll put anyone of their stroke. :D

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Perhaps they are all just conceptual artists up there.:D

http://people.clarkson.edu/~petersca/pictures/orgy.jpg

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

It seems to be the season of ill will regarding people who use their job to make this world a slightly better place. I have seen both Panopticons and think both are a worthwhile addition to both landscapes. It really rags me off that people on this website do virtually nothing but spout on and on about how awful everything is and how everything is a waste of public money blah blah blah.

Mid pennine's scheme to give us things that provoke discussion has apparantly worked, HOWEVER the vast majority of people who post on here just slag off Gayle and the panopticon schemes as it's an easy target.

If we didn't have things of this ilk the world would be a much duller and sadder place irrespective of whether you like them or not.

I, for one, will continue to support Mid Pennine (and Gayle) in their endeavours to make this world brighter.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Gayle does do a hell of a lot to brighten things up in the borough shady but wether you think its whinging or not, these are Crap and Waste of money.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

They are easy targets because they are both ugly monstrosities that do nothing whatsoever to make the world a better place. They do represent wasted public money and they bring no advantage at all to the areas they are situated in. Sorry if we philistines upset you by saying this, but we're just expressing our democratic opinion.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

I have met Gayle.. done some photography for her .. I like her enthusiasm and I think she does a heck of a lot more for our community than all the moaners on here put together.. she works hard at what she does (I have seen) and a lot of people owe her for a lot of help she has given.. You wont find me having a pop at her.. quite the opposite

However.. the ponoptican is a no-no in my book because the only thing I have seen is stupid spaceships and other daft ideas to be put on the coppice and for me they would embaress us all.. I would be embearrssed to say I live here with a spaceship on the coppice. When it was in the papers it was all daft ideas... The tube thing burnley got doesn't sound all that bad... I would have perhaps supported the idea... But we seemed to have attracted all the loony stuff and now whenever its mentioned for accy its a flat no from me ..

I doubt gayle will take my views on the ponopticanthingy personally.. it's a pop at the daft ideas to put on the coppice nothing personal..

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

I like the tree, and intensely dislike the Blackburn one.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

If people aren't able to taske criticism, they shouldn't put forward their art for public comment and discussion, but keep it to themselves.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

No one said Gayle did not contribute to the arts in Hyndburn or elswhere. Some of these 'moaners' on here have done a lot for the town also without seeking the added publictiy that goes with it. Furthermore these Panopticons make Andy Wharols Campbell's tins look good!

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

really... show me one... just one... lets see if your info is as big as your gob shall we... show me one of the people moaning in here who has done a lot for the town in the last 12 mths.. consistantly..

Twelve months is a short time in a lifetime, I have no wish to engage in verbal fisticufs, just the right to express my views without your insults!

A coward does it with a kiss, a brave man with a sword.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Hey you quoted me and took me to task.. wasnt you expecting a response?.. If you want to have a go at someone and them not reply then I suggest you pick on someone else. However feel free to take me to task anytime on my posts.. but have a little more than thoughts that pop into your head to backup what you post... :)

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

yeh but would you buy the painting?;)

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Possibly not an original but I used to have pop art prints in my younger days. :)

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

I like what's in them better willow, there is no accounting for taste, each to his/her own.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Your lucky.. I cant remember younger days :)

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If I offended you or anyone else I humbly appologise, there is no place in my life for enemies or ill will.

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

me too but thats a differant matter i may have done then,but their long gone an i now have proper pictures lol

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

So do I Cashman, many of my own creating. ;)

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Awww thank you, one of my prints.:D

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

I think the picture of the Blackburn Panoptican sums up the problem. Whether you like it or not it has to be kept in a decent state. The Blackburn one looks shabby and unloved and no doubt the council who`s job it is to provide maintenance for this sculpture will find better things to do with the towns money, which was always one of the reasons against anything on the Coppice, it would be just left to go to seed by the council.
Compare and contrast with the Angel Of The North, which has previously been used as a comparison. It needs minimum maintenance and was designed to weather as part of its attraction
Gayle does lots of fine work for the area and most of us don`t knock her just for the sake of it, only when we disagree with what is put forward, as is our democratic right. Remember Gayle is employed by Mid Pennine Arts and has to give a positive angle on these projects, because its her job!

Re: PanoptiCAN and PanoptiCAN'T
 

Thank you for the few of you who have come out in my defence. I do realise that when you're having a go at the Panopticons you're not having a go at me personally but there are times when I get a bit frustrated with it (I'm not complaining I know it's par for the course with a controversial project).

I get a bit frustrated because I'm not the project co-ordinator for the Panopticon project so it's not really up to me to take any credit (haha) or flak for it in some respects! However, I realise I'm the public face of the project in Hyndburn so it's only natural that you would talk to me about it.

Yes, Uncle Mick, I work for Mid Pennine Arts and yes, it's my job to be positive however, you've known me for a long time and when have I ever been the sort of person who would stand by things if I did not believe in them? You know me and you know that I have always been involved and interested in the arts so this is not some new thing that I have just latched on to. I am not just saying this because I have to but because it's my view.