Column over Wirral

The University of Westminster in London recently opened an exhibition called Vertical Works devoted to Anthony McCall's ... er ... thingies (CLICK). One of the items on display is a six-foot scale model of Column, a towering column of corkscrewing steam commissioned by Arts Council England at a cost of £500,000. What on earth for? you might ask. Good question. It's to be part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. It will first rise above Wirral on New Year's Eve 2011 and remain throughout 2012. What a waste of money, especially galling now that the British Olympics Association (BOA) has run out of funds for supporting Team GB (CLICK)! What plonkers!