What is this plaque in Swinegate about?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 14 Dec, 2011 8:52 pm

This photo (taken Dec 14 2011) is of the plaque in the covered section of Swinegate. Does anyone know what it was commemorating? I drew a blank on a search of SL and if there is something available through a Google search I could not readily find it.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Wed 14 Dec, 2011 9:01 pm

Here you go Leodian.A GRIMY relic of Leeds's industrial past has been dragged into the 21st century.A display of 20 yellow, red and blue lights was switched on yesterday in the 150-year-old Swinegate tunnel under Leeds City Station that leads to the city centre.Bulbs flash on and off in sequence 24 hours a day, to create a colourful wave effect along previously dingy walls.The 30,000 installation has been paid for by Network Rail and Leeds City Council.Coun Elizabeth Minkin, the council executive member with responsibility for the city centre, said: "This is a brilliantly innovative project which we hope will brighten up the bridge's appearance and enhance people's enjoyment of Leeds."The council commissioned Nottingham artist Raphael Daden, who came up with the idea for the light display he calls Continuous Flow.The council and Network Rail have joined forces to try to spruce up railway bridges on a number of key routes in Leeds, including the city centre loop and the waterfront.http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... _1_2254751

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 14 Dec, 2011 9:13 pm

Cheers Phill. That's appreciated. Your searching skills are clearly much better than mine! I assume the lights display is no longer working as no bulbs flashed on and off while I was there despite the report stating "Bulbs flash on and off in sequence 24 hours a day".

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Wed 14 Dec, 2011 10:05 pm

http://www.raphaeldaden.co.uk/node/21

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Wed 14 Dec, 2011 10:16 pm

They did another arty type project under the arches a few years ago, this time it was sound they generated. I'm not sure how impressive (or not) it was.But the sound of the Town Hall clock mechanism was played down there.[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/2302008120/]You can see the microphone on the right of the shot.I believe the sound of water was played outside the art gallery as well.

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Wed 14 Dec, 2011 10:45 pm

I didn't realise the art project in the Swinegate Tunnel had been there so long! If asked, I would have said it was installed no more than about five years ago. I enjoyed it when it worked - the sounds still seem to be there but it's a shame the lights have failed and haven't been maintained.To follow on from Phill's comments and photo about the other sound installations, the live recording of the Town Hall clock was actually broadcast in the foyer of the Art Gallery (very weird to stand there and hear the sound recording of the seconds ticking, and if you were there on the hour you could hear the bells about half a second before you heard the actual clock striking the hour outside). I loved the water sounds, which were recorded live from the Dark Arches and came from several speakers high up on the Art Gallery wall and which could be heard on Cookridge Street and the Headrow. Below is a link to some info about the project - it's described as permanent, but unfortunately hasn't lasted.http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+g ... s/art20343

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Wed 14 Dec, 2011 11:42 pm

The sound of the water is still being played.I went down a fortnight ago to THE HOP pub and heard it.The lights do also change occasionally but seem to be on a long time delay.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 14 Dec, 2011 11:45 pm

Thanks Cardiarms and Tasa for your information. When I first heard the water sound outside the Art Gallery I thought I was hearing things until I realised that it must be an art related project. It lasted for a long while (certainly many months, possibly at least a year or more) and it was always amusing to see the reaction of people who had never heard the sound before (just as no doubt I reacted the first time). I never saw the Swinegate lights in operation.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 14 Dec, 2011 11:52 pm

Steve Jones wrote: The sound of the water is still being played.I went down a fortnight ago to THE HOP pub and heard it.The lights do also change occasionally but seem to be on a long time delay. Thanks Steve. Your post came in while I was still composing my post above. I did not know the water sound was still being broadcast, as I have not heard it for ages now. The moving lights did not display during the several minutes I was there, so as you say they must "be on a long time delay". I shall have to keep visiting Swinegate in the hope I can catch the display when I walk past and activate it some time!

sirjohn · Post by **sirjohn** » Fri 16 Dec, 2011 6:31 pm

you're talking about 2 different projects. the coloured wave lights are swinegate, and mostly broken. I think they have been there about 8 years. there was never any sound installation herethe sound, LED wall and optical illusion wall are on dark neville st.this was only completed in 2010, and has already broken down on and off, but the cacophony of rail tracks and running water is still normally playing....http://www.yorkshire-forward.com/media- ... lle-Street