It looks like someone forgot to turn the power off to one of the towers on the City Plaza site. This was the first time I’ve seen any splash of color on the still under construction public art piece. From what I recently learned, this is but a pale shadow of what these 50+ ft. towers are capable of.

Last week saw a gaggle of photographers and media (what – no invite, City of Raleigh?) to get a sneak peek of the towers in full effect. Those lucky few got to see what will be in store for the official unveiling of the four brushed stainless steel, LED powered light columns in the 500 block of Fayetteville Street.

According to the foreman on the site of City Plaza, the barely lit yet beautiful single column is only a tease of what is to come. He described the towers as having the ability to “mimic the colors of a barbershop pole, but shooting the light into the air”. From what I understood, the lights will display several different lighting programs and patterns of colors and light.

The towers are set to be lit for Raleigh Wide Open 4, the street festival taking place later this month on Fayetteville Street.

The four towers designed by Greensboro-based sculptor Jim Gallucci certainly made a highly favorable first impression with me. The light towers will be in good company with other Raleigh-based illuminated artwork, including the Shimmer Wall and the (soon to be re-lit) Color Wall on Hillsborough Street.

It sure would be nice to see the this beautiful gem on Fayetteville Street set in place at nearly the same time as the historical one brought back to life on Hillsborough Street.