Crinoid
Shorehead Building, Huddersfield University

The name Shorehead conjures up images of sea, shell and shore. 350 million years ago in the carboniferous period, the area that is now Huddersfield was a shallow tropical sea situated 5 degrees South of the Equator. Prehistoric coral-like sea creatures called Crinoids inhabited the area. Their fossilised remains can be seen in limestone and mill-stone grit and have inspired the Crinoid sculpture.

A crinoid resembles a small palm tree, its branch-like crown of tentacles sway with the movement of water and it is this weightless, undersea creature that has inspired the artist Kate Maddison.

The suspended sculpture, created with localfabricator Michael Stott of Steel Dreams and metal spinner Aiden Douglas. Crinoid responds to the air movement caused by people passing through the Shorehead building’s foyer.

Colour-changing lights emitted through fibre optic cables woven through the five flax support ropes simulate the underwater effect of light. The project celebrates traditional skills of Huddersfield and the opening of the Shore-head Building foyer.