JennyOwen

By JennyOwen

Light show

This week the annual 'Sensoria' festival has had a light installation on the ground floor of the Cole Brothers (later John Lewis) building in the city centre. JL closed several years ago, and its loss has had a big impact locally.
Part of the week was devoted to a 2 day consultation about options for future uses in the building (see second extra for a flavour of the comments/suggestions). I missed the consultation but got in to see the installation today, before going to meet Frieda from school.
It was a really lovely experience. Gone - of course - were the shiny make-up counters, the gleaming displays and the bustle of the JL days (though as you'll see in the post-its in the second extra, for some the perfume lingers on). Instead, there was an air of calm in the soft light. The installation works by linking sound and light: if you sing, shout, hum or whistle into one of the microphones, the big tubes start to dance with changing colours and intensity. I spent quite a while just watching, seeing what I could capture with the camera.
It's funny to have seen this on the date when - so much later - the Northern Lights have been on display over the UK. I missed this, knowing that this particularly busy week would not be a good time for a late-night outing. But somehow the Sensoria installation took its place, leaving me with a real sense of calm and wonder.
Edit: one more extra, from the nearby and recently-refurbished Leah's Yard.

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