Global Rainbow Flipped On In England For London's Cultural Olympiad (PHOTOS)

Global Rainbow

First Posted: 03/ 3/2012 1:26 pm Updated: 03/ 3/2012 1:27 pm

Each Olympics, there's a lesser-known cultural olympics that runs parallel to the main event. Over the years, there hasn't been consistency as to how long it runs, or what the cultural olympiads in various nations feature (artists, and artistic activities, mainly). This year's event in London is said to be the "largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements" (according to their own website). As part of the festivities, earlier this week international artist Yvette Mattern's laser rainbow projection, Global Rainbow, was flipped on in Whitley Bay, England, to celebrate London's Cultural Olympiad in the north-east of England.

According to the BBC, the rainbow, which stands for "diversity and peace," has previously been installed in Germany, France and the United States, and was first created in 2009 to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. This time around, the five colors are references to the olympic rings. The projection will shine along the North Tyneside coastline until Sunday. From there, it will spread its light to other parts of the UK. Go here for more information on London's Cultural Olympiad, and look! Pretty pictures of light below.

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Each Olympics, there's a lesser-known cultural olympics that runs parallel to the main event. Over the years, there hasn't been consistency as to how long it runs, or what the cultural olympiads in va...
Each Olympics, there's a lesser-known cultural olympics that runs parallel to the main event. Over the years, there hasn't been consistency as to how long it runs, or what the cultural olympiads in va...
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butchcliff
The future is unwritten
06:27 AM on 03/07/2012
Think it's a wonderful show of color spectacle
04:03 AM on 03/06/2012
Right now....on some planet....an alien is catching this on his cell phone to post on his spacetube account. In the description he will write..."whoa....what do you think this is ? I swear I didn't photoshop this either".
10:09 PM on 03/05/2012
I think it's a horrible precedent, it will mean that even the pristine sky will be filled with artificial lights advertising things.
06:29 PM on 03/05/2012
Whoops. Typos. The artist is Waltraut Cooper, of Linz, Austria.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltraut_Cooper
Her project is Rainbow Trilogie and ran world wide from 1999 to 2005 - One of the works was PeaceLine. Guess "Imitation is the sincerest form of Flattery".
06:25 PM on 03/05/2012
Hmm, this is Waltraud Coper's project. Projecting rainbows in the skies. She did hers years ago. How quickly they forget and someone else gets the cash and glory for her idea.
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DanielSC
05:15 PM on 03/05/2012
For everyone criticizing the LGBT community for having the rainbow as a symbol. We have as much license to use it as the Christians do for De Colores... maybe you should be focusing on what this rainbow is being used for and not lessening it because of your intolerance.
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userzba
08:15 AM on 03/05/2012
Better turn it off I'm sure in violates something in the Koran--- lol
07:20 AM on 03/05/2012
looks more like obamas international color spectrum for socialism. im sure the under 35 generation is all warm and fuzzy right now.
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Parade Keegan
I Can Hear You
06:49 AM on 03/05/2012
I love the rainbow. I also just realized that the anti LGBT crowd now hates rainbows. This is so fabulous, their bigotry is denying them enjoyment of a natural and may I say "heavenly" "god made" phenomena of indescribable beauty though this isn't the only beautiful thing they're missing because of their bigotry. Sad people.
08:48 PM on 03/04/2012
The article explains that the rainbow is the five colors of the Olympics. I mean, this is something they do for the Olympics. But almost every comment on here is either about the proper number of colors in a rainbow, or those evil gays for using rainbows. What about all of the "Pace" rainbow peace flags? Let's not forget those! It's an Olympic light show. Dare I say....lighten up!
lynniemiller
Aware, alert and listening
06:18 PM on 03/04/2012
Very nice
04:18 PM on 03/04/2012
For those of you who love the natural world take a peek at the Hubble telescope website, gallery and pictures sections. Awesome sights you will never see on earth. The far reaches of the universe where none of us will ever go, just for those who can tear themselves away from their nasty remarks.
03:02 PM on 03/04/2012
This is GREAT....! We all stop to see a "rainbow" and a double.... is a WOW ! To all of those whom have nothing to say good. I guess you have lost sight of how to feel happy as a young child did when SANTA was a big dream ! Make a wish on a Rainbow..You may find that pot of happiness. This "rainbow "may not go around the world for all to see, but it has to start some place. Can you build one ? Why not try to send a little happy color around the world for all to see.???? It has been said " It is OK to dream BIG or small as long as your HEART is in your dream " BIG or small dreams are never to extreme..Hold on to to your DREAM !
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thedesertpig
02:25 PM on 03/04/2012
I'm all for recapturing the rainbow ... it was hi-jacked by one movement but now with globle effort maybe it can be reclaimed by all.