Swirling blue and white lights shining on Red Deer’s iconic “green onion” water tower drew a steady stream of people early Friday night.
Even all the hungry mosquitoes didn’t deter them from taking a closer look at one of glowing centrepieces of the city’s Centennial celebration.
“It’s certainly out of this world isn’t it. It looks like something out of an alien movie,” said Wayne Hopp who was slapping away bugs while taking photos of the Mountview tower as night fell.
“Boy the mosquitoes are friendly.”
From dusk to dawn, Friday to Monday, the pale green water tower was transformed into a public art canvas by U.K.-based Creatmosphere,
Known for making trees appear to breathe for the 2010 London Olympics, the company was tasked to produce a water-themed art installation for Red Deer.
The landmark steel tower, that stands 40.2 metres tall with an upper ball 18.9 metres in diameter and underground tank, stores 2.27 million litres or 500,000 gallons of water.
When it was completed in 1957 to meet the community’s growing water demands, the tower was the world’s largest water spheroid.
“That’s pretty cool. That’s really something different,” said Nancy Wright as she admired the illuminated tower closeup.
“Red Deer should have it all the time because (the tower) is so special.”
Wright said she usually isn’t out so late in her neighbourhood.
“We had to walk the dogs. I’m sure glad we did. It’s almost worth coming back again at midnight.”
Bea Tobias, who was in her vehicle hiding from the mosquitoes, came to see the tower with her grandchildren.
“It’s beautiful. I never imagined what it was going to be like when they said there was going to be a light show on the water tower,” Tobias said.
“I wish it was like this all year round.”
She said just like clouds in the sky, her grandchildren were seeing different shapes appear in the spiraling patterns projected on the tower from 16 lights.
Christine Constable said the tower has been a part of her life ever since she was a child when her grandparents lived nearby. Now she lives in the neighbourhood and she had to come see what was going on.
Seaira Constable, 11, said she couldn’t decide if lights made the tower look more like the planet earth or the ocean.
“I think it’s worth coming and seeing,” said Nadine Kuiken who walked over after hearing about the light installation from a friend.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com