This is one of the new lighting features for the world famous Blackpool Illuminations and its newly launched Festival of Light concept, which was switched on for the 2005 season at the weekend by Chris Evans.
The 20ft diameter rotating mirror ball, is named They Shoot Horses Don't They and has been in residence since 2002. It was created by artist Michael Trainor and is synonymous with the culture of ballroom dancing, for which the town is also historically renowned.
McLennahan was commissioned to transform the glitter ball into a "new icon for the illuminations". Apart from that brief, received from Illuminations' Festival director Philip Oakley, he was given a free hand as to how he achieved the goal.
His aim was to make it contemporary, cool and fun as well as a memorable visual sight that brought a distinct touch of luminescent glamour and sophistication to the sea front. The six ColorSpot 1200 E ATs are mounted on customized 5m high posts, with special domes on top to protect them for the weather - being directly exposed to the Irish Sea it can be an extremely hostile environment. The posts were designed and supplied by Blackpool Council's Illuminations engineering department. They are force air cooled to extract the heat of the fixtures form the small space.
Rental and sales company HSL from Blackburn supplied the Robe fixtures. McLennahan had not used Robe before, and he was considering his moving light options when Robe UK's Bill Jones turned up and demonstrated the ColorSpot 1200 fixture in situ. As soon as he'd seen the units in action he knew it was the light for the project, "ColorSpot 1200 is a fantastic piece of kit," he declares. "The optics and effects are amazing, the brightness and smoothness are awesome and they gave me all the scope to do everything I wanted with the installation. Apart from all that functionality, they are also incredible value for money!" Oakley adds: "We were simply so impressed with the demo that we decided there and then to purchase them!"
In addition to the lights being pointed directly onto the ball and changing colours, effects and gobos are projected. The lights have been programmed by McLennahan to wander out into a small arena immediately around the Ball, making patterns on the floor and engaging in 3D animations and projections. All of this draws people in to enjoy the work as a living light sculpture.
Control is from a ShowCAD Artist system located in the Solaris office building over the road from the sea front. Power is sourced locally, and data is transmitted via wireless DMX. The Artist is programmed to start up, run and then shut down at predetermined times each night.
HSL also supplied another four Robe ColorSpot 1200 E ATs for the top of Blackpool Tower for the opening week of the Illuminations. They are being used to perform aerial effects and to project light beams and logos onto the clouds.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
