6 things to know about the giant chandelier hanging under Granville Bridge - Action News
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6 things to know about the giant chandelier hanging under Granville Bridge

A 7.7 metrecrystal chandelier has been unveiled under the north end of Granville Bridge.

Answers to your questions about Vancouver's newest public art

A limousine drives under the massive public art piece hanging from Granville Bridge. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

A giant chandelier was installed under the north end of the GranvilleBridge in Vancouverearlier thisweek.

Here are six facts you'll want to know about it.

1. How big is it?

It's 7.7 metrestall by 4.2 metreswide, according toWestbank, developers of the nearbyVancouver House, which is sponsoring the public art.

Built ofstainless steel, LED lampsand more than600 polyurethane "crystals,"the piece weighs over 3,401 kilograms.

A lift operator works near the chandelier that is about three times his height during installation under the Granville Bridge on Thursday. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

2. Does it light up?

Yes, and much more.

The art piece's official title is Spinning Chandelier because, once officially unveiled, it will light up, descend from the underbelly of the bridge toward the street, spin for about fourminutes, stop spinning, lift back up to its starting position and go dark again.

Most of the time, however, the chandelier will sit in the recesses of the bridge.

Jill Killeen of Killeen Communication Strategiessays that there will be further tests and consultationwith the artist before deciding on the schedule.

Spinning Chandelier is powered through a nearby building in the Vancouver House development. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

3.Who designed the piece?

One of B.C.'s most internationally acclaimed artists, Rodney Graham, designed the Spinning Chandelier. Graham is the recipient of a 2011 Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts and was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2016.

Spinning Chandelier is inspired by a previous film installation of Graham's titled Torqued Chandelier Release.

It took more than three years for the piece to be designed and manufactured. The manufacturing of the kinetic sculpture was done by public artwork fabricator Walla Walla Foundry. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

4. Why was this commissioned?

Vancouverbylaws for all buildings over 100,000 squarefeet requiredevelopers to contributea piece of public art. So Westbank commissionedSpinning Chandelieras part of theVancouver House development which centreson a distinctivetwisting highrise.

Two people stop in the street to take photos of the chandelier with their phones. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

5. How much did it cost?

About$4.8 millionin total.

A construction worker walks beneath the giant chandelier. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

6. When will the installation be complete?

Rodney Graham's Spinning Chandelier will be officially unveiled onWednesday, Nov.27at 7:30 pm. The artist will speak at7 p.m. before the big reveal.

An evening view of the chandelier from Beach Avenue. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)