Wednesday 1 April 2009

liverpool in the spring ....


Whilst strolling from the station to our Liverpool office I spotted this.... not difficult to miss as it is huge. Apparently it has been on Paradise Street since November, but I have not been over that way since the summer.

It is a Pillar of Friendship and is spectacular.

Under the leadership of master smiths from nine countries, 300 blacksmiths from all over the world worked together to forge the 15 separate pieces that make up the pillar.

This is a blog entry from one of the blacksmiths ... Adrian Wood. This is his designed piece.
What a buzz that must have been to work on something like this



As I approached the dock area I notice these structures dated in the 1850s. They stand opposite the road where my ancestors settled after they cam over from Ireland in the early 1850s. They would have stood at one stage looking at these as I did this last week. It was a starnge feeling.
It passed through my mind what they would think of the regeneration and the fact that these massive trading warehouses are now apartments.... my ancestors lived about 15 to a house back then with no sanitation .....


Another place I managed to visit this last month was Sefton Park. A huge favourite of mine and I have happy memories of playing there as a kid.
The park is undergoing a transformation, the lake has been drained and the statue of Eros is back after a long absence as is the bandstand.
My favourite part of the park has a lways been the Palm House and this was renovated a few years ago now.


These images just had to be solarised... I love the way it has picked up the bird in the photo on the right




The Park was opened in 1872 another area where my ancestors would have strolled around too.

my gt aunt & uncle Sefton Park C1930

3 comments:

Daddy Papersurfer said...

Me likee the 'Pillar of Friendship' a lot. I did quite a lot of welding at college which I loved. I keep thinking I'd like some gear again ...

I once ran a project at a school of a Totem Pole with all the kids making the different segments and then we stuck 'em together - worked really well. It had a similar feeling to it.

Likee that carving as well .....

Randompom aka AEIB said...

I knew you would like this piece due to your welding and doing stuff with metal... it really is spectacular.

Totem Poles are great & so individual...you know that could be a great exhibition piece where each artist does a bit and it builds up

That craving was a surprise.. from the back it looks like a chopped down tree until you get close and it is his hair then from the front you see his face. Not sure how long he will last as natures beasts have been gnawing at him

Randompom aka AEIB said...

oops not craving but carving lol