HALO IS LAUNCHED
The large scale kinetic wind sculpture HALO was launched on Tuesday 14th August by the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore.
‘Halo’ is a dynamic new addition to the City of Sydney’s public art collection and the centrepiece of the landmark Central Park development in Chippendale.
Halo was commissioned by Frasers Property and Sekisui House in collaboration with the City of Sydney.
Halo has been nominated for an Engineering Excellence Award for the management of the unique engineering expertise involved in delivering its structure and movement.
Jennifer Turpin says Halo is an extraordinary integration of art, science and engineering acting in collaboration with the natural environment.
“It’s as much an invention as it is an artwork,” she says.
As its name suggests, Halo comprises a giant, glistening tapered yellow ring 12 metres in diameter attached to a 6 metre long arm, and pivots off-centre atop a 13 metre high tilted pole. The ring is made from carbon fibre, an ultra-light ultra strong material, often used in high-end boat manufacturing. Painted with pearlescent glazes it catches the light to give the ring a golden glow.
Activated solely by the power of the wind, the ring tilts and turns in response to its ever-changing speed, direction and gusts. The entire weight of the ring and arm balances on a tiny ceramic bearing the size of a small glass marble.
“Halo’s deceptively simple form belies the complexity of its multi-disciplinary engineering," says Michaelie Crawford.
“The inspiration for Halo came from the history and industrial forms of the old brewery combined with a dynamic response to the natural and built environment of the new precinct,” according to Michaelie. “The beautiful circular supports for the enormous old brewing vats inspired Halo’s form and a desire to reference the tipsy effects of beer resulted in the ring’s precarious balance and off-centred tipping and turning.“
Taking almost three years of research, testing and design, the creation of Halo required the expertise of several specialist engineers, designers and fabricators lead by Jeremy Sparks of Partridge Event Engineering.
Halo is located in Chippendale Green, a new park within the Central Park development site opening in December 2012. In the meantime, the artwork is best viewed from O'Connor Street, Chippendale.
Come and experience Halo at a special Open Day on Saturday 25th August 11.00am-3.00pm. Lounging bean bags will be provided to allow the best and most comfortable view. All welcome, free of charge. Enter via O’Connor Street, Chippendale.
JENNIFER TURPIN RECEIVES A CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIP
Jennifer was recently awarded a Churchill Fellowship by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. She will travel to Japan, India and Europe to study environmental artworks particularly contemporary and traditional designs and artworks that incorporate water.
WINDLINES
Public artwork WINDLINES was opened in September 2011 by philanthropist and adventurer Dick Smith !
Windlines:The Scout Compass of Discovery is a major public sculpture located at Scout PLace, 33 Alfred Street, Circular Quay, Sydney. Commemorating the centenary of Scouts in Australia it was commissioned by the City of Sydney and Scouts Australia.
In the spirit of scouting adventure, Windlines harnesses the ever changing nature of the wind to inspire imaginative and actual journeys of discovery. Evocative place names from the greater Sydney area, many of particular significance to the Scouts, are embedded in lines of text in the ground accompanied by a disctance and a direction for each of the 16 points of the compass. As the 8 metre high stainless steel feathered vane turns into the wind above, viewers are invited to join the adventure and discover the places hidden in the encircling 'wind lines'.
Come to Circular Quay and see where the wind takes you !