River of Light is more playful than ever
River of Light opens in Liverpool | English National Ballet's Giselle at Liverpool Empire and Manchester Palace Theatre | Latest NW arts news
I am an incessant screenshotter. My camera roll is filled with images I’ve grabbed from the internet of books, records, exhibitions, podcast recommendations and ideas for features. Earlier, when I was swiping through to see if I had saved anything that was worth mentioning in this week’s Stored Honey, I found a photo of Ilan Sheady who I bumped into at the Albert Dock last week.
He’s a brilliant graphic artist, who I worked with at the Liverpool Daily Post many years ago, and he has illustrated the cover of Ramsey Campbell’s latest novel Fear Across the Mersey. Few writers know how to build tension like Campbell, so with Halloween coming up this week I’ve added it to my list of spooky reads for Halloween.
Whether this weekend marks the end of the half term holiday - or the start of it - a reminder that if you’re looking for ideas of how to entertain the kids you should check out Stored Honey’s suggestions, which include spooky tales with hot chocolate, and a wizards and fairies cruise. And there’s a guide to Liverpool’s River of Light coming up below.
But before that - knowing a little more about who is reading Stored Honey is really valuable, as it allows me to cater the content better. Rather than ask you to fill in a long survey, I will from now on be including the occasional quick poll, like this one…
Not just a spectacle - but you have to get involved
“Play” is the theme of this year’s River of Light - and seeing the joy on people’s faces as they interact with the illuminated artworks dotted around Liverpool City Centre makes you think the concept should be applied to many more events. Imagine a party conference centred on the theme of play, or a business fair - the creativity that it would inspire, the ideas that delegates might be fired up to conceive.
River of Light has always been a spectacle - and has involved some interactive elements. But this year, many of the pieces don’t work as they are intended to if you don’t get stuck in to make them. The balls will sit immobile inside a giant egg-timer if you aren’t prepared to turn a wheel to tilt it; the seesaw won’t light up if you don’t perch on one end and push off to move it up and down. Being involved in the art makes it more special - if you weren’t there, it would stay dull and still.
Ideally, you would follow the trail and see - and play with - all of the pieces on display. But if you have children that tire easily or want to catch a quick look while you’re on your way to something else, here is a quick rundown of each art work. I’ve marked the ones you really shouldn’t miss.
Bubblesque by Atelier Sisu - Mann Island Basin
The artist envisioned this piece as bubbles overflowing a larger-than-life bath tub. If you touch the bubbles, they cycle through a pre-programmed series of flashing lights, but if they are left alone their progression through different colours is more gradual and restful. One not to miss.
Illusion Hole by UxU Studio - Albert Dock (on the water of the inner quay)
Pinpoints of light are arranged in a precise geometric pattern, which makes it appear as if the water is flowing into a mysterious black hole. You need to be standing right in front of the art work to appreciate this illusion - from one side it looks pretty enough but that’s it.
Positive Spin by Liz Harry - Albert Dock (behind the Maritime Museum)
Harry was inspired by summers spent at beach front arcades to create this work - a 5.5m-high, neon-lit fruit machine. Push the buttons and the dials turn to deliver a cheerful message. Tip: Give yourself plenty of time for this one as there isn’t a lot of room in front of it and there tends to be a large queue of people wanting to have a go. One not to miss.
Lightbattle III by VENIVIDIMULTIPLEX, Martin Luther King building, Salthouse Quay
Pick a side and pedal the bikes as fast as you can to see who can light up the arch first. If you little ones’ legs are too short for the bicycles, they can hand-crack instead.
LAPS by Olivier Landreville - The Strand (alongside Salthouse Dock)
This piece shows how the simplest designs can often be the most captivating. You turn a wheel to tip the egg timers and let the white balls flow freely into the lower chamber. It’s quite hard work but the result is well worth the effort. The video above shows it being made. One not to miss.
Bunch of Tulips by Koros Design - Liverpool ONE, Thomas Steers Way
Bunch of Tulips by name, bunch of tulips by nature. Massive, illuminated tulips though, created to reference the flower’s enormous surge in popularity in the 1630s. At the time of 'tulipmania', a bunch could cost as much as a house.
No Place Like Gnome by Amigo & Amigo - Derby Square
These tiny tourists are not so little - in fact they tower over anyone stopping to pose for a selfie. They are each carrying a prop - a suitcase, a camera or a book - and have a “Liverpool clue” hidden in their designs. Unfortunately I didn’t read the blurb properly until after I got home so you’ll have to let me know what these clues are if you discover them. One not to miss.
Checkmate by Amigo & Amigo - Exchange Flags
Each piece in this giant game of chess is inspired by the 20th Century Bauhaus movement, which blended art and design. They move around the board to electronic music featuring robotic sounds.
Firefly Field by Studio Toer - Our Lady and St Nicholas Church Garden
Little blobs of light dart around the grass, imitating the movement of a swarm of fireflies. You also get a cracking view of the Liver Building from this vantage point.
Impulse by Lateral Office & CS Design - Pier Head
A row of seesaws move up and down, their motions triggering a pattern of light and sound as you ride them. Lots of fun and as four people can take part on each one at a time, hopefully there won’t be much of a queue. One not to miss.
Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos by MURUGIAH - Mann Island atrium
Created to celebrate Diwali, this light sculpture resembles an open flower and features interactive floor projections at various times.
Piano Walk by Amigo & Amigo - Pier Head
Walk along the giant piano keyboard of this charming installation and you will trigger the 40 interactive keys, which in turn cause hammers to strike the strings and play a relaxing melody. One not to miss.
River of Light runs from 5-9pm every evening until Tuesday, November 5. There will be a quiet hour with reduced sound and, where possible, softer lighting from 4-5pm on Sunday, October 27; Monday, October 28; Sunday, November 3; and Monday November 4.
Latest arts news
🏺 A trio of solo exhibitions is opening at The Lowry, Salford, on Saturday, November 23, showcasing the work of Aliyah Hussain, Paloma Proudfoot and Renee So, who all use ceramics as a vehicle for imaginative storytelling, constructing contemporary narratives through objects, tableaus and immersive environments. LOCAL/NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL will run until February 16, 2025.
🐶 The Christmas Story Trail around Liverpool’s historic Calderstones Park is back for a fifth year - and this time families are invited to bring their furry friends. The new self-led festive trail is based on children’s picture book, An Odd Dog’s Christmas, by the best-selling author/ illustrator Rob Biddulph. It costs £15 per family in advance or £17 on the day, and includes a copy of the book as well as a trail map and pencil for every child. Saturday, November 23 until Christmas Eve, from 10am to 2.30pm.
🌟 Dancer/choreographer Chris Fonseca tells his own story of discovering music and dance having lost his hearing after contracting meningitis as a child. A fully BSL-led hip-hop gig theatre show, Follow the Signs is performed through BSL, rap, spoken English, movement and creative captioning, and aims to be shared by Deaf and hearing audiences together. It’s at HOME, Manchester, from Tuesday, November 5 to Saturday, November 9.
🎻 Orchestra dell’Arte will present Puccini’s La Bohème in the Tung Auditorium, Liverpool, on Saturday, November 9. The opera will be semi-staged and performed by cast of professional singers, a full orchestra and conductor Edward Peak.
In case you missed it
REVIEW: Giselle, Liverpool Empire ⭐⭐⭐⭐
English National Ballet’s latest production of this tragic romance is a real looker, with gorgeously-rendered scenery reminiscent of a Gainsborough painting.
This sumptuous backdrop is the setting for the first act, its simplified pastoral landscape entirely appropriate for the jolly villagers embracing the happiest times of rural life - a wine festival - and Giselle’s naive love.
Drunk on love, rather than fermented grape juice, Katja Khaniukova as the girl dances with joy in every step. Until she discovers her beau (Aitor Arrieta) is a duke in disguise - and worse, he’s engaged to another woman. Then her movements become erratic, her gestures desperate until she collapses in a broken-hearted heap.
The second act could almost belong to a different ballet, and that’s what makes it so mesmerising. The chocolate box cottages are replaced with a pair of gnarly, twisted trees so tall you cannot see the top. The soft colours have turned to greys, and the glee of first love with the wrenching pain of loss.
Enter the Willis - the wandering souls of women rejected by their own true loves who, thanks to Mary Skeaping’s deft choreography, are a perfect blend of graceful and menacing. Delicately spinning around the stage, they entice the hunters who come to mourn at Giselle’s grave before whirling into vengeful action. When they dance in unison, filling the stage, they appear grimly inhuman.
Skeaping’s version of Giselle premiered in 1971 - she died 13 years later at the age of 81. She leaves a fine legacy, continuing to captivate audiences so many decades later.
The final performance of Mary Skeaping's Giselle at the Liverpool Empire takes place tonight. Book tickets here. It tours to the Palace Theatre in Manchester next week, from Wednesday October 30 to Saturday, November 2.
Opening this week
Ruth Moilliet’s bold and engaging sculptures look at the decline of plant species, their pollinators and the natural world as a whole, questioning the responsibilities we have as individuals to prevent further decline through our daily activities and the items in our lives. The Atkinson, Southport, today to Saturday, March 8.
Thank you for reading this week’s Stored Honey. If you liked this newsletter then please do hit the ❤️ button as it helps it get shown to more non-subscribers.
I’m off now to plan the couple of days off I have during my kids’ half term holiday. In the meantime, you can get hold of me on Instagram, in the comments or by replying to this email.
Have a great week,
Laura
P.S. There is less than a week left to take advantage of the special offer to celebrate publishing the 100th edition of Stored Honey. The cost of annual memberships is 20% off until October 31. That’s £32 per year rather than £40, which works out as 62p per week. Paid members receive an additional monthly email, which I carefully curate with a selection of exhibitions, shows, events, books and more taking place that month - helping you plan your free time and making sure that you don’t miss out on the best of the region’s arts and culture. Click the button below if you want to know more.
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