Cosmic Cycle (The Rising Universe)
| Browse information by: Location Makers General Information Classification Object Parts Object Condition History References Photographs | /HM06I03.JPG) Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright for Photograph: Creative Commons |
Location
| Street: | West Street |
| Town: | Horsham |
| Parish: | Horsham |
| Council: | Horsham District Council |
| County: | West Sussex |
| Postcode: | RH12 |
| Location on Google Map | |
| Object setting: | Outside building |
| Access is: | Public |
| Location note: | In the centre of the pedestrianised area at the junction with Springfield Road |
| In the AZ book: | West Sussex |
| Page: | 25 |
| Grid reference: | N9 |
| The A-Z books used are A-Z East Sussex and A-Z West Sussex (Editions 1A 2005). Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd. Sevenoaks. | |
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Makers
| Name : | Angela Conner |
| Role: | Sculptor |
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General Information
| Commissioned by: | Horsham District Council |
| Unveiling date: | 13/11/1996 |
| Work is: | Extant |
| Owner custodian: | Horsham District Council |
| Object listing: | Not listed |
| Description: | A large circular fountain bowl set in a circular paved area with four radiating arms. In the centre of the bowl stands a large spherical sculpture that, with the action of water, moves up and down a central shaft. The sphere fills with water pushing it down the shaft. When the weight of water reaches 6 tons, the water is released at force into the bowl. On the ends of each of the radiating arms is a smaller bowl with smaller spheres that revolve with the action of circulating water. The exterior wall of the large bowl is thickly planted with a variety of flowers. The sculpture stands in the centre of a large shopping area. |
| Inscription: | ''COSMIC CYCLE'' WATER IS SHELLEY'S ELEMENT. IT FLOWS THROUGH HIS POETRY. IT DRAWS HIM / TO ITSELF. TRAGICALLY, IN THE MEDITERRANEAN ACCIDENT WHICH ENDS HIS LIFE IN WATER / THE SOURCE OF LIFE ON THIS PLANET, THERE IS ALSO DEATH / IN MY SCULPTURE, A NEW, COSMIC SHAPE, LIKE LIFE ITSELF, EMERGES FROM ITS SHELL. / WATER ANIMATES IT. BY SHEER WEIGHT (EVENTUALLY 6 TONS) IT PRESSES THE FORM DOWN AGAIN / UNITL, WITH A MIGHTY BREAKING OF WATERS IT IS FREE TO RISE AND BEGIN AGAIN. SHELLEY, / HORSHAM'S POET OF LIBERTY KNEW THAT THERE IS A CYCLE TO ALL THINGS, LINKING ATOM AND / COSMOS IN ONE RECURRING PATTERN ANGELA CONNER |
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Classification
| Categories: | Sculptural, Free Standing, Composite, Abstract |
| Object type1: | Fountain |
| Object subtype1: | Ornamental Fountain |
| Object type2: | Sculpture |
| Subject type1: | Symbolic |
| Subject type2: | Non-figurative |
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Object Parts
| Part 1: | Satellite arms and bowl |
| Material: | Polished concrete |
| Width (cm): | 1372 |
| Depth (cm): | 1372 |
| Part 2: | Large sphere and shaft |
| Material: | Concrete and steel |
| Height (cm): | 854 |
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Object Condition
| Overall condition: | Good |
| Risk assessment: | No known risk |
| Condition 1 of type: | Surface |
| Condition 1: | Biological growth |
| More details: | Biological growth in the main bowl at the base of the large sphere. |
| Condition 2 of type: | Structural |
| Condition 1: | Cracks, splits, breaks, holes |
| More details: | Some chipping and cracking to all the four smaller bowls on the ends of the satellite arms. |
| Date of on-site inspection: | 11/09/2007 |
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History
| History: | This fountain is generally better known as 'The Rising Universe' or occasionally the Shelley Fountain. The former is meant to reference Shelley's poem entitled 'Mont Blanc', from which the sculptor drew her inspiration:
The everlasting universe of things Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves, Now dark - now glittering - now reflecting gloom - Now lending splendour, where from secret springs The source of human thought its tribute brings Of waters, - with a sound but half its own, Such as a feeble brook will oft assume In the wild woods, among the mountains lone, Where waterfalls around it leap for ever, Where woods and winds contend, and a vast river Over its rocks ceaselessly bursts and raves. “Mont Blanc’, 1817 - Percy Bysshe Shelley 'Thanks to a very generous donation by Sainsbury Properties, on November 13, 1996, crowds gathered in the new piazza to witness the unveiling of 'Rising Universe', a spectacular fountain inspired by Shelley’s poem Mont Blanc and created by sculptor Angela Connor. Members of Horsham Symphony Orchestra played a new work by composer Martyn Harry, also inspired by Mont Blanc. The poem was written in 1816 and aimed to imitate what the poet called 'the untameable wildness and inaccessible solemnity' he had experienced at the mountain. Since that day ten years ago people have come to know the Shelley Fountain as a notable landmark, many have enjoyed its spectacular releases of seven tonnes of water every five minutes and others have hotly debated its artistic qualities. The water used in the fountain was turned off to help with regional water shortages and, now that the Council is successfully reducing the water it uses in other areas, it is now to be turned back on again. Conserving water remains very important and we will continue to monitor this.' (http://www.horsham.gov.uk/your_area/News/news_6751.asp - 19/09/2007) |
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References
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Photographs
Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons | /HM06I21.JPG) Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
/HM06I18.JPG) Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons | /HM06I13.JPG) Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
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