Ray Of Hope

Catherine Jones 19/9/08 Ray Of Hope Liverpool Echo

A LASER beam of light is linking the towers of Liverpool's two cathedrals.

Final tests were carried out this week and the laser was officially turned on for the first time last night.

It can be seen at night, with the green beam particularly clear on misty or rainy evenings, until the end of November as part of the Independents section of the Liverpool Biennial.

One of the best vantage points will be on the steps of the Metropolitan cathedral.

Artists behind the Hope Street Project say they hope it will "be perceived as a valuable contribution to the social and spiritual resonance of Liverpool 2008."

The project uses two lasers – one visible during hours of darkness and the second an invisible beam carrying voices and sounds along Hope Street.

And organisers are looking for Liverpudlians to take part in the installation.

The project manager, Wirral artist and writer Colin Dilnot, said: "We're in the process of collecting voices which will be carried along the second laser and we're looking for people to take part.

"We also want to encourage schools and community groups to get involved.

"There will be times during the week and weekend when if you go into either cathedral you'll be able to hear the sounds we've collected.

"We're going to put the voices through the strings of a guitar and because everyone is different, it will create a harmonic sound."

The Hope Street Project is the third phase of a series of installations by artist and musician Peter Appleton and composer Simon Thorne.

The others were at Cardiff's Old Library and at Manchester Futuresonic.

The project will culminate with a simultaneous concert in the cathedrals involving local choirs on November 27.

catherinejones@liverpoolecho.co.uk