Post by The Collector on Sept 3, 2008 12:27:33 GMT
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1052114/Giant-mechanical-spider-suspended-Liverpool-tower-block-mark-Capital-Culture.html
A giant spider has been spotted on the skyline of one of Britain's biggest cities - but arachnophobes need not fear.
The huge insect spotted in Liverpool is in fact entirely mechanical and part of a new piece of street theatre organised to mark its year as Capital of Culture.
Weighing 37 tonnes and standing 50ft high, the spider is currently clinging to the side of Concourse Tower in the city.
The street theatre event is being staged by the same group of artists who brought London to a half with their Sultan Elephant two years ago.
That show saw a 12-metre tall puppet pachyderm roam the city and became one of the most talked-about public spectacles of recent years.
French arts collective La Machine are keeping exact details of the Liverpool event a close secret but it has been in the planning for 18 months.
It is thought the insect will come down from its current position tomorrow and then 'wake up' on Friday before starting to explore the city.
Tens of thousands of visitors are expected in Liverpool over the three days to try and see the mechanical arachnid.
It has been billed as one of the highlights of the Capital of Culture celebrations and has cost £1.8 million.
The spider was built in Nantes, France, before being shipped to England and assembled in a top-secret location.
FOR PICS FOLLOW LINK
A giant spider has been spotted on the skyline of one of Britain's biggest cities - but arachnophobes need not fear.
The huge insect spotted in Liverpool is in fact entirely mechanical and part of a new piece of street theatre organised to mark its year as Capital of Culture.
Weighing 37 tonnes and standing 50ft high, the spider is currently clinging to the side of Concourse Tower in the city.
The street theatre event is being staged by the same group of artists who brought London to a half with their Sultan Elephant two years ago.
That show saw a 12-metre tall puppet pachyderm roam the city and became one of the most talked-about public spectacles of recent years.
French arts collective La Machine are keeping exact details of the Liverpool event a close secret but it has been in the planning for 18 months.
It is thought the insect will come down from its current position tomorrow and then 'wake up' on Friday before starting to explore the city.
Tens of thousands of visitors are expected in Liverpool over the three days to try and see the mechanical arachnid.
It has been billed as one of the highlights of the Capital of Culture celebrations and has cost £1.8 million.
The spider was built in Nantes, France, before being shipped to England and assembled in a top-secret location.
FOR PICS FOLLOW LINK
