Stepping away from Liverpool for a brief moment, my latest digital preservation project took me to the bustling Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester. Amidst the incredible architecture and busy shoppers, there is a striking bronze sculpture right in the heart of the food court that demands attention. It is known as The Spirit Of New Orleans, and it was the perfect next subject for my Creality Otter Lite 3D scanner.
Here is a look at the history behind this energetic public artwork and how the latest 3D scanning tech captured every musical detail.
The History Of The Spirit Of New Orleans Sculpture
While the Trafford Centre is known as a shopping destination, it is also filled with incredible commissioned art. The Spirit Of New Orleans stands proudly at the entrance to the New Orleans themed quarter of the food court, bringing a touch of jazz history to the North West.
Here are the key facts about this fantastic piece:
- The Artist: The sculpture was created by the talented Colin Spofforth, an artist known for his dynamic public works across the UK.
- The Commission: It was commissioned by Peel Holdings plc specifically for the opening of the Trafford Centre and was officially unveiled on September 8 1998.
- The Design: Cast entirely in bronze, the piece features four life size jazz musicians in the middle of a lively performance. Three of the figures are standing and playing the clarinet, trombone, and trumpet, while the fourth musician is seated playing the banjo.
- The Atmosphere: The artwork perfectly captures the vibrancy and rich cultural heritage of the American South, setting the perfect mood for the surrounding dining area.
Scanning A Jazz Band With The Creality Otter Lite
Digitizing a multi figure bronze sculpture in the middle of one of the busiest shopping centres in Europe is no small task. The intricate instruments, the complex poses, and the constant flow of people meant I needed a fast, highly accurate, and completely unobtrusive tool. Once again, the Creality Otter Lite proved to be exceptional.
Here is why it was the ideal scanner for this specific project:
- Capturing Fine Details: The instruments held by the musicians are incredibly detailed. The 0.05 millimeter accuracy of the Otter Lite flawlessly mapped the keys of the clarinet and the strings of the banjo, ensuring the digital model was as realistic as the physical bronze.
- Handling Complex Geometry: With four overlapping figures, there were countless difficult angles and undercuts. The completely wireless, lightweight design of the scanner allowed me to weave around the statues and capture the space between the musicians without losing tracking.
- Overcoming Indoor Lighting: The Trafford Centre has very specific, warm artificial lighting that can confuse traditional scanners. The advanced stereo vision system handled the bronze patina and the ambient light beautifully, allowing for a perfect scan without the use of any scanning sprays.
- Quick And Unobtrusive: Because the scanner is so fast and handheld, I was able to capture the entire group of musicians quickly without getting in the way of shoppers enjoying their meals in the food court.
Preserving A Musical Tribute In 3D
Taking a moment to appreciate and digitally preserve the art that surrounds our everyday spaces is incredibly rewarding. With this highly detailed 3D model, the fantastic work of Colin Spofforth can be viewed from every angle, allowing people to appreciate the craftsmanship of The Spirit Of New Orleans from anywhere in the world.
