Articles and news
StarDisc interpretation panel
This is the panel at the StarDisc location.
by Aidan Shingler
Posted: 31 January 2012
StarDisc inaugural performance
On Saturday 17th Sept 2011, Greg Pullen performed the Bach cello Suites for the StarDisc’s inaugural performance.
by Aidan Shingler, photograph: Ron Williams
Posted: 08 October 2011
StarDisc launch - Open invitation
Saturday 10th Sept 7pm Wirksworth – Derbyshire.
The StarDisc was launched at the top of Stoney Wood - Wirksworth’s Millennium Community Woodland by BBC’s ‘Sky at Night’ co-presenter and astronomer Pete Lawrence.
The evening included an outdoor screening of Steven Spielberg’s ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ presented by QUAD, Derby’s centre for art and film.
The event was part of Wirksworth’s Festival celebrations
by Aidan Shingler
Posted: 7 September 2011, updated 5 January 2012
Stardisc nearing completion
The final stages of the stardisc being put in place. There are photographs of work in progress from March in the construction galleries.
by Aidan Shingler
Posted: 26 August 2011
StarDisc launch date September 10th!
The foundations for The StarDisc are laid. A ground modeled, grassed banked, seating area has been seeded - this will seat 100 people or so - there will be steps leading to each level and a to a decked viewing platform at the top which gives an excellent vantage point from which to view the StarDisc with the Ecclesbourne Valley beyond and Middle Peak Quarry behind… also a wonderful place to catch the sunset.
Stone is currently being cut and carved and will be installed in July/August.
Pete Lawrence, astronomer, writer and co-presenter of the BBC's 'The Sky at Night' TV programme will open the StarDisc. It will be launched on the evening of September 10th 2011 during Wirksworth's Festival of Visual and Performing Arts. We hope and anticipate the launch will include a specially recorded message by Patrick Moore and an onsite open air screening of Steven Spielberg's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'… The StarDisc planners would like to thank Wirksworth Festival and Derby City's QUAD for the latter. All are welcome.
By Aidan Shingler
Posted: 24 May 2011
StarDisc: inspiration
Throughout my life, I have been enchanted by the mystery and magic of the stars. The inspiration for the Star Disc stems from a vision to create environments where people from all walks of life, can gather, contemplate, and connect with, whatever lies beyond the sphere of our world… The Star Disc is a temple without walls.
By Aidan Shingler, photograph: Deborah Rose
Posted: 31 March 2011
Funding now in place!
The Star Disc Project now has funding in place. Heartfelt appreciation to all who are supporting the project. Funders include:
- Arts Council England
- Community Spaces
- Big Lottery
- Wirksworth Town Council
- The Stoney Wood Group
- Derbyshire Dales District Council
- The Rennie Partnership
- Stafish Communities Ltd
- White Peak Astronomical Observing Group
- Tarmac
- Aspire Solar
- Crispin Donaldson
- Dickon Shingler
- Luke Shingler
- Aidan Shingler
- Ronald Durdey
- Noreen Durdey
- Steve & Irene Gough
- Christine Wright
- Janet Honey
- David Lawrence
- Phil Richards
- Phil Bramhall
by Aidan Shingler
Posted: 31 March 2011
Star Disc exhibition
A multimedia Star Disc information and feedback exhibition, during the 2009 Wirksworth Festival of Visual and Performing Arts was tremendously successful and productive. The show was seen by hundreds of visitors. Fourteen pages of inspiring comments from festival goers and the local community were collected. The planners are delighted with the overwhelming positive response the project received. The Star Disc Steering Group would like to express our appreciation to Wirksworth Festival organisers for giving us the opportunity to stage the exhibition.
You can view Phil Richards' photographs of the exhibition in the Star Disc gallery.
by Aidan Shingler
Posted: 31 December 2009
BBC Radio Derby interview
On 21st August 2009, the Star Disc was featured on a BBC Radio Derby Interview, when Aidan Shingler and Phil Richards were interviewed for Aleena Naylor's Morning Show. You can listen to the interview below or download the podcast.
by Aidan Shingler
Posted: 31 December 2009
Steering Group meeting
The first Star Disc Steering Group meeting was held on 8th June 2009. The Steering Group comprises:
- Rosie Rennie - Architect, The Rennie Partnership
- Kevin Mann - Landscape Architect, Project Manager of The John Flamsteed Memorial Park
- Phil Richards - Photographer, School Library and Information Manager
- Chris Bristow - Treasurer of The Stoney Wood Group
- Aidan Shingler - Artist and creator of the Star Disc
The planners bring with them a wealth of experience. Between us we will steer the project through the funding and development stages and ensure the successful realisation of The Star Disc.
Dave Everitt of Eco Consulting was commissioned to design and build the Star Disc Website. The Star Disc planners would like to express our appreciation and offer our congratulations.
by Aidan Shingler
Posted: 9 June 2009
Feedback about the project and website
Since the Star Disc website was launched we're delighted to have received many positive comments. Here are just a few of them…
- Wow what a beautiful website!
- GREAT website… really good. What a lot of hard work.
- Sounds and looks great!
- Your site and the project looks beautiful.
- Looks really good - loved the music. Got around the site easily, enjoyed the visuals, especially the impression of what it will look like. It all reads very well - not too much and not too little.
- A very professional and very beautiful web site.
- Charles Monkhouse, Arts in the Peak - Accessible and informative website, acts as a great tool for anyone that wants to get involved with this exciting project.
- Lucy Stevens, Arts Council England East Midlands - That’s one cracking web site!
- member, White Peak Astronomical Observing Group
by Aidan Shingler
Posted: 9 June 2009
Close Encounter
1997… The night sky was clear and peppered with stars as I walked my dog Henry on a snow-covered village green in County Durham.
I looked to the heavens with wonder and voiced a request; an invitation to the Star People, the beings we also describe as Ex-terrestrials… ‘If you would like to reveal yourselves, I would be very happy to receive you.’
Moments later I looked eastwards down the main street that runs through the village, and there, passing slowly and silently through the dark ether, was a huge irradiant green sphere, a luminous emerald orb, the size of the sun, emitting a trail of golden light. It descended to earth and landed in pastures a few hundred yards from me.
Overflowing with gratitude, two words passed my lips… Thank you.
Extracted from ‘One In A Hundred’ by Aidan Shingler
Posted: 9 May 2009