The Big Warm at Eastnor 2008
August 11th, 2008 by sparky
Photo by Mark A Bennett
The Big Warm by The World Famous was a spectacular sculptural bonfire (designed by Mandy Dike) animated with fireworks, and burnt as the exciting finale at this year’s Big Chill Festival.
Sat atop of the 35ft high fairytale mountain of slated wood was a cosy cottage - a precarious refuge from the surrounding images of a petrified forest, complete with wolves, hobgoblins and staring eyes, emitting sporadic puffs of red smoke through the day.
As daylight faded, red distress flares were ignited across the site, journeying inwards towards the bonfire, with lines of fire burnt across the lake, bringing the focus towards the tower. Tension built with intensity as the tower started to glow, whilst the eyes of wolves and hobgoblins glowed red.
Performers wielding pyrotechnic waterfalls approached from the hillside, creating circular showers of silver sparks which cascaded down the mountainside. The cottage pulsated with a vivid strobing light and silver dancing comets streamed up from the roof of the cottage.
Finally the performers torched the tower. As the flames grew fireworks erupted from the base of the mountain, along with a surging soundtrack. As the fearful faces were engulfed by flames, the cottage remained intact until last, when it eventually crumbled into the flames as the fireworks burst overhead.
All images © Mark A Bennett.
