Art; Culture & creativity
19 Feb 2024 - Elliott Brown
Gallery
The Bullring presents Borealis by Dan Acher - 9th to 18th February 2024
From the 9th to 18th February 2024 at the Bullring in Birmingham was an art installation by Dan Acher called Borealis. Based on the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. It was on Central Street (St Martin's Walk) for 10 days from 5pm to 9pm each evening. Best seen after dark, as the effect didn't really work in daylight I found. Smoke machines and ambient music.
The Bullring presents Borealis by Dan Acher - 9th to 18th February 2024
From the 9th to 18th February 2024 at the Bullring in Birmingham was an art installation by Dan Acher called Borealis. Based on the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. It was on Central Street (St Martin's Walk) for 10 days from 5pm to 9pm each evening. Best seen after dark, as the effect didn't really work in daylight I found. Smoke machines and ambient music.
BOREALIS THE NORTHERN LIGHTS - ANYTIME, ANYWHERE Borealis recreates one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena over cities around the world. It shifts our emotional experience of familiar urban landmarks and awakens a shared conscience by creating something magical - something that shouldn’t naturally be there. Borealis is about our ancestral communion with nature and our more recent compulsion to control it. As our planet’s climate breaks down, the question arises: will technology one day replace everything that nature currently provides for us?
Dan Acher's Borealis was held at the Bullring on St Martin's Walk above St Martin's Square (aka Central Street) from the 9th to 18th February 2024. Time started each evening at 5pm, ended each night at 9pm. Every evening attracted a big crowd looking at the artificial Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights. Personally I think they should have started it a month earlier, as between 5pm and 6pm, it's not that dark in February, although getting dark after sunset, which is getting a bit later each day now.
11th February 2024
First spotted one of the Borealis light towers from Edgbaston Street, after walking from Southside between buses.
Nice sunset down St Martin's Walk to St Martin in the Bullring, at approx 4:50pm, so 10 minutes before Borealis was due to start. This day I didn't wait for the lights to turn on.
This day, I waited the 5 minutes until 5pm for the multi-coloured lights to turn on, but was cloudy, and you don't really get the full Borealis effect at this time, but noticed the smoke machines going on.
That evening was when I hoped to catch Borealis after dark, I even popped to Costa Coffee in Grand Central beforehand after work, but I got there at 5:30pm and it wasn't dark yet, but got the full effect, and not much to see from St Martin's Square below.
The last evening, one more attempt, so got the bus up from home, then popped to Caffe Nero in Birmingham New Street Station (other coffee shops close at 5pm). Then got here for 6:30pm, and got a lot of photos of it, best I could, these are the best photos I took of Borealis.
Art; Culture & creativity
14 Mar 2022 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration
Wizarding World Wand Installation at the Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham
Harry Potter and Fantastic Beast fans, get yourself down to the Bullring on St Martin's Walk for the Wizarding World Wand Installation. It started on the 11th and will end on the 17th March 2022. This is ahead of the release in cinemas of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (April 2022).
Wizarding World Wand Installation at the Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham
Harry Potter and Fantastic Beast fans, get yourself down to the Bullring on St Martin's Walk for the Wizarding World Wand Installation. It started on the 11th and will end on the 17th March 2022. This is ahead of the release in cinemas of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (April 2022).
Art; Culture & creativity
18 Feb 2021 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration
The Floral Trail, The Big Hoot & Sleuth at St Martin's Square
There has been a couple of Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail pieces in St Martin's Square, but only in 2009 and 2013. In 2015 there was several Big Hoot owls around the Bullring, with at least one outside of St Martin's Church. Plus in 2017 there was one Big Sleuth bear outside of the church in the square (another bear was to be found inside Selfridges).
The Floral Trail, The Big Hoot & Sleuth at St Martin's Square
There has been a couple of Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail pieces in St Martin's Square, but only in 2009 and 2013. In 2015 there was several Big Hoot owls around the Bullring, with at least one outside of St Martin's Church. Plus in 2017 there was one Big Sleuth bear outside of the church in the square (another bear was to be found inside Selfridges).
Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail
Birmingham Parks & Nurseries (aka Cofton Nursery) have over the years been making floral trail pieces to go on display in the City Centre every summer. But first they take the main display to the Chelsea Flower Show and Gardeners World Live, where they usually win the Gold prize. These are the floral trail features spotted over the years in St Martin's Square.
Trafalgar Medal, Summer 2009
I didn't really start exploring the Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail until August or September 2009. One of the first pieces I found was Trafalgar, Oct 21 1805 near St Martin's Church in August 2009. It is based on a medal that Matthew Boulton made, following the death of Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. He approached the Admiralty and offered to commemorate the famous victory by presenting sailors who fought in the battle with a medal. Birmingham was the first place in the country to erect a statue of Horatio Nelson in 1809.
This is the second half of The Best of Birmingham. It won Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show, plus Gold and Best of Show at Gardeners World Live in 2012. Seen in St Martin's Square during August 2012. At the top is the Bullring Bull, then Selfridges in the middle and the Birmingham canals at the bottom with a narrowboat. The first half was in Centenary Square (with the Town Hall, Silver Spoon and a Mini).
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A look at the bottom half with Selfridges and the Narrowboat in the canal with a lock.
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View from the balcony near Selfridges looking down to St Martin's Square. It was very impressive looking. Must have been nice having the two halves together at Chelsea and at The NEC that year.
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The Big Hoot Birmingham 2015
Now onto The Big Hoot. In St Martin's Square there was about 3 Big Hoot painted owls from July 2015, for around 10 weeks. Before they were auctioned off for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.
Beorma
This owl was located outside of St Martin's Church and was called Beorma (after the nearby Beorma Quarter in Digbeth). It was painted by the artists Jodie Silverman from a design by Betty Underwood a pupil from Camp Hill School for Girls. The sponsor was The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham. Seen during July 2015.
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There was about 8 interlocking hands at the front.
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Plus flags of the world on a wing at the back. More little owls could be found inside of St Martin's Church at the time.
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Selfie
This Big Hoot owl resembled Selfridges (seen behind) and was called Selfie. The artist was Martin Band, and the sponsor was LDC. This was up the ramp around the back of the Spiceal Street development, not far from Jamie's Italian. Seen during July 2015. And yes I took a selfie with this one.
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Skyline 2015
This Big Hoot owl was located at the bottom of St Martin's Walk at the Bullring, with the spire of St Martin's Church and the statue of Horatio Nelson behind. Skyline 2015 was by the artist Nick Murley. The sponsor was Bullring. Seen during July 2015.
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The skyline was painted on the back of this owl as well.
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The Big Sleuth Birmingham 2017
Now onto The Big Sleuth. There was several Big Sleuth bears around the Bullring starting from July 2017, for around 10 weeks. Before they were auctioned off for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.
Bearmingham
This Big Sleuth bear was located outside of St Martin's Church, and resembled the Birmingham Forward coat of arms. It was by the artist James Mustafa. The sponsor was The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham. Seen during July 2017. There was more little bears inside of St Martin's to find at the time.
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Brummie Bear
This Big Sleuth bear was to be found inside of Selfridges (and not in St Martin's Square, but adding for completion). It was by the artist Slobodan Topolović. The sponsor was Selfridges Birmingham. It resembled Selfridges, Rotunda, St Martin's Church, Bullring Bull and Birmingham New Street Station.
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The famous Selfridges discs at the back of the bear. Lasting longer than the real discs that need some TLC.
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Birmingham's Hidden Spaces: A look around St Martin's Church (September 2015)
It was September 2015 and Birmingham Heritage Week. Mainly popped into St Martin's Church at the Bullring for The Big Hoot's Little Hoot, but also got these shots. May have also been to do with Birmingham's Hidden Spaces. The visit on the 12th September 2015. Stained glass windows, the Alabaster Tomb and more!
Birmingham's Hidden Spaces: A look around St Martin's Church (September 2015)
It was September 2015 and Birmingham Heritage Week. Mainly popped into St Martin's Church at the Bullring for The Big Hoot's Little Hoot, but also got these shots. May have also been to do with Birmingham's Hidden Spaces. The visit on the 12th September 2015. Stained glass windows, the Alabaster Tomb and more!
The main reason for this visit was at the time there was various small painted owls inside of St Martin's Church that were part of The Big Hoot's Little Hoot. The trail accompanying The Big Hoot Birmingham 2015 trail. July to September 2015. So this was before the owls were removed and auctioned off for charity.
Here though we will look around the church from the inside.
First look at a pair of stained glass windows. One of these was designed by Edward Burne-Jones and made by William Morris (the window in the south transept).
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The next stained glass window close to several memorials on the wall.
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The walls around this stained glass window came out dark.
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This stained glass window above some stone scultural details.
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A bunch of pink flowers with a fan behind (elephant on it). Below is a weaved basket holding the flowers. With white flowers seen below.
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This is The Alabaster Tomb.
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This is an effigy of Sir John de Bermingham, probably early 15th century. Sir John was a knight who fought in the wars of France from 1373 until his death in 1393. Close inspection of this tomb reveals tiny patches of ancient colouring on the sword belt and on the coat of mail.
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Close up of Sir John de Birmingham. Still looking like a Knight after 630 years.
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The organ pipes.
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WW1 war memorial (1914 - 1918). For the fallen of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. either side was a pair of Little Hoot owls. Tawney on the left (by King Edward VI Five Ways School), and When I Grow Up on the right (by King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys).
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Stone arches holding up the left side of the church.
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Interesting looking carved wooden details towards the wooden doors with glass windows.
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Plaque on the wall. On Wednesday 23rd March 1887 the St Martin's Society of Change Ringers rung the bells on the visit of Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the Victoria Law Courts (on Corporation Street). The Mayor of Birmingham at the time was Thomas Martineau.
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In this room was this centre table with lit candles. You can see that plaque behind.
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This wooden carved entrance ways leading to a modern revolving door.
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The wooden arched ceiling. Holding up both walls of the church.
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Some art on this wall. Looks like ghostly crosses to me.
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This leads to the churches cafe. Never been in myself. Was probably rebuilt in the early 2000s when the modern Bullring was built.
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A waterfall on these metal table things.
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Another bunch of flowers on a curvy yellow and orange base. Near the metal waterfall thing. And one of The Little Hoot owls.
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Birmingham, the Amazing Stained Glass Windows in St Martin in the Bullring - December 2019
I was lucky to visit the interior of St Martin in the Bullring during almost perfect conditions for photos of some the amazing stained glass windows, the low sun was shining directly through the south side windows and I got a few of the famous Burne-Jones window in the south transept.
Birmingham, the Amazing Stained Glass Windows in St Martin in the Bullring - December 2019
I was lucky to visit the interior of St Martin in the Bullring during almost perfect conditions for photos of some the amazing stained glass windows, the low sun was shining directly through the south side windows and I got a few of the famous Burne-Jones window in the south transept.
Birmingham, St Martin's Square in the Bullring - December 2019
St Martin's Square is at the heart of the Bullring shopping centre hosting St Martin in the Bullring (St Martin's Church), the Selfridges Building, many restaurants, the south entrance to the Bullring shopping centre, and the gateway to the Birmingham Markets and Digbeth. Also there are the 'Copper Tree' and the Birmingham Blitz Memorial.
Birmingham, St Martin's Square in the Bullring - December 2019
St Martin's Square is at the heart of the Bullring shopping centre hosting St Martin in the Bullring (St Martin's Church), the Selfridges Building, many restaurants, the south entrance to the Bullring shopping centre, and the gateway to the Birmingham Markets and Digbeth. Also there are the 'Copper Tree' and the Birmingham Blitz Memorial.
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