Acrobat Arch – Manchester, UK - Freestanding Arches on Waymarking.com

It was erected in September 2010 and forms an entrance arch on a pathway leading onto an area of redevelopment on the southern side of Manchester.

The site previously had old industrial gas works and gas holders on it. The area is being redeveloped and has attracted funding from the European Union.

The artist is Colin Spofforth and his website tells the story behind them.

“Up there’ is a series of five 2.5m sculptures set on 5m stainless steel columns. The concept was to project the sculptures up into the trees lining First Street in Manchester.
Colin explained: “The trees are a key feature on First Street. My challenge was to produce artwork that didn’t take your eyes down to the ground, instead the sculptures attract the eye ‘up there’ in to the trees! The trees become the theatre and the sculptures are the actors”.
(visit link)

Each of the acrobats is a different colour with this particular one being green. The redevelopment is so new that the Google satellite view shows the site whilst work was still under way.

The acrobatic arch is actually next to a brick arch which is part of a railway viaduct. The entrance to the site is therefore through an old industrial brick arch from which you are immediately confronted with this modern arch and redevelopment site.

Looking back the other way you can see a mixture of the old Manchester architecture with a very modern 50 storey skyscraper in the background.

Type: Gateway Subtype: Sculpture Location: First Street Redevelopment Area

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