Horseshoe Magnets – Manchester, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 28.525 W 002° 13.949
30U E 550940 N 5925433
These 2 large magnets were the winning design in a competition for a public artwork to celebrate the 175th anniversary of The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1999.
Waymark Code: WME619
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/08/2012
Views: 2
The statue stands next to a railway viaduct on Altrincham Street near the student union building for what used to be UMIST, but in 2004 merged with another university to become simply Manchester University.
UMIST specialised in technical and scientific subjects and was a major centre for research. Its motto was Scientia et Labore (By Knowledge and Work).
It started life in 1824 as Mechanic’s Institute where artisans could learn basic science, particularly mechanics and chemistry. Many such institutes were formed in this Victorian era to sustain the knowledge and expertise needed for industrial growth.
The sculptor Paul Frank Lewthwaite specialises in using everyday urban objects in his art pieces. In this piece he has positioned the 2 large red horseshoe magnets facing each other embedded in 2 black blocks. Because everyone knows how magnets behave they look ready to move, only being held in place by the blocks.
The artwork is titled the Generation of Possibilities and because the poles of the magnets are not marked, you’re left wondering whether the magnets would move together or fly apart.
Title: The Generation of Possibilities
Artist: Paul Frank Lewthwaite
Placement Date: 1999
Website: [Web Link]
Type of Object: Horseshoe Magnets
Location: Altrincham Street next to a railway viaduct.
Material: Metal
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