The Great Cosmic Cycle

The "Cosmic Cycle" monument in Horsham, Sussex UK filmed during lunch at a recent book signing.... kind of interesting just don't touch the moving parts kids, or wander into the fountain after a night on the lash, you might get a bit more than you bargained for... ! The sculpture itself is designed and made by Angela Conner as a tribute to the great poet "Shelley". A large circular fountain bowl is 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 (and the sphere rises again filling with water thus continuing the Cosmic Cycle). 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. 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. "Thanks to a very generous donation by Sainsbury Properties, on November 13th 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 http://www.publicsculpturesofsussex.co.uk/object?id=165 MUSIC: Cut and Run by Kevin MacLeod (Creative Commons Licence). Thanks for Watching!