Friday 9 December 2011

December 9th, 2011 - Friday

Location: Shudehill Interchange
Designer: Micah Purnell, Artist - www.micahpurnell.com

Location Notes: The Interchange is one of the more recent additions to the city, providing metrolink, buses, coaches and car parking, all on the edge of the Northern Quarter and next to the Printworks. In 1783, Richard Arkwright opened Manchester’s first cotton mill just metres away on Miller St. Then in Victorian times it was a shoppers hub late into the night (fuelled by the fact that any food still left at midnight was then put on sale) - one night in 1870 was reported as Shudehill hosting up to 20,000 people!

Shrine Notes: Rather than a destination, Shudehill is turning into a place of movement, of transition, people always going somewhere. Pray for safety during travel, both your own and for others. Being located next to the Northern Quarter, also pray for the spirit of creativity and independence to flourish in that area.

Designer Notes: The notion of a shrine comes to me with reverential fear, excitement and expectation as if life itself hangs in the balance. The piece is a reminder of the fragility of life and indeed questions the very existence of the soul, and if it does exist can it be nourished? What is its role? Does it lay dormant? Does it have an eternal destination? Can it die?

Feel free to write about your thoughts and experiences with this shrine, or how you've seen people using it, as a comment (see below) or tweet @sanctus1mcr.

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