FloppyFlex features in submariner tribute
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The hollow steel sign, by Street + Garden, is painted navy grey with letters perforated in the steel, spelling out ‘Submariners’ Heritage Trail’ in classic naval stencil font. Pixel-controlled Digital FloppyFlex inside the sign illuminates the letters, giving a stunning, colour-changing glow effect that seems to move inside the monument.
The installation was up and running in time for the Teneriffe / New Farm Anzac Day dawn service, the memorial’s unofficial opening day. In the pre-dawn darkness, all the nearby street lights were turned off, with the memorial’s lettering and the sub-seats along the trail glowing a deep red, simulating the interior of a submerged sub. Once the service started, the sign glowed and gently scrolled through the Australian flag colours of blue, red, and white.
“My father was a submariner and involved with the Submarine Association before he passed, and had actually worked on the project at its outset with OAM medal recipient Don Currell,” commented Heath Williamson, Firefly’s managing director.
Every night, the sign and the submarine seats along the Heritage Trail will light up red or blue. They will also be adapted to mark special occasions. For example, on Australia Day the sign will light up in green and gold; it will scroll through red, white, and blue on July Fourth; or red and green at Christmas, and so forth.
(Jim Evans)
