News & Events - December 2009

ART AT THE EDGE

A Maquette for the Olympics!

Sioban is interpreting Handcycling with the help of Paralympic Athlete Rachel Morris who was Gold Medal Handcyclist at Beijing, and our Paralympic hope for 2012!

Art at the Edge is organising an inspirational public art display of sport themed sculpture.
The dual aims are:
- To celebrate outstanding sporting achievement, inspire young people and to deliver art to a wider audience.
- To raise funds for causes which improve opportunities for disadvantaged young people.

All the sculptors are introduced to a representative of their chosen sport so that they can gain insight into its key dynamic, which is how Sioban was introduced to Rachel Morris.

Handcycling has been a Paralympic sport since 1988. Top speeds exceed 30 mph in races, see more in this interview with Rachel Morris.

The day Sioban first met Rachel, she had just cycled 60 miles as part of her daily training routine!

The sculptures for the project will be developed in phases over the next two years. In the first phase, which has already commenced, established British sculptors representing a range of styles will be commissioned to create 30 sculpture maquettes (1:5 scale models) covering the major sporting disciplines. They will be cast in bronze by the prestigious Pangolin Foundry in Gloucestershire.

In Phase 2 an additional 30 guest artists will be invited to participate.

Phase 3 is an invitation to schools to get involved via a national sculpture competition. 12 regional finalists will be selected and their sculptures will be incorporated into our exhibitions, so that it can be part of the Cultural Olympiad 2012.

The final phase involves the scale up of sculptures to life size. Commercial sponsors will be invited to help finance this phase.

The sculptures will be exhibited at a number of promotional venues throughout the region culminating in 2012 with a spring preview of all 72 sculptures at the Eden Project and a summer public sculpture trail in the city of Bath. We will also exhibit the collection in London during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For further information contact Sioban; Handcyling UK or email
Justin at Art at the Edge or call 07 887 992 045

THE ENGLISH PAIR @ THE TOWN GARDEN
FOR CHRISTMAS!

opening times:
Monday - Saturday, 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Steve Jebbett (owner of The Town Garden) was wandering through 'village' Oxford with his daughter during the summer. They passed some people (Pete and Sioban!) loading sculpture at the rear of the Turrill Gardens after an exhibition there in Summertown. There amongst the items on the trailer was the 'English Pair' ...

'It caught my eye immediately, a 2 metre high sculpture of bronze leaves made in the form of male and female faces. What's so intriguing for me, is that this part of the city (North Parade, Oxford) is often known as leafy north Oxford. What a fit.'

'Last week, Sioban arrived at the store, complete with the English Pair, and it now sits proudly in the conservatory. I'm hoping it attracts a lot of interest (and maybe a buyer!) - and local traders and residents may also see the potential of having a landmark sculpture at the entrance to North Parade Avenue from Banbury Road.'

The The Town Garden is located just five minutes' walk from St.Giles in leafy central north Oxford. There is convenient parking nearby in Winchester Road and Canterbury Road. North Parade Avenue is a small oasis of galleries, shops, pubs and cafes, practical and inspirational businesses!

The Town Garden
No.1 North Parade Avenue,
Oxford OX2 6LX

telephone:
01865 552626

Contact Steve or
Sioban for more information.

AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!

CURIOSITIES
A WINTER EXHIBITION

until Wednesday 18th December

10am - 4pm daily

The Bullpen is a rural arts centre in the Vale of the White Horse in South Oxfordshire.
Visitors are welcome to look at the work on show in the gallery, and see other workrooms and studios. You will find a friendly welcome.

CURIOSITIES is a mixed show of delights including some of Sioban's Small Bronzes as well as a range of work from other artists - Iron Sculpture
Silver Jewellery, Copper, Woven Wire and Wall Pieces.

Between 2nd - 6th December visitors can see artists at work in the foundry making moulds for bronze casting - a unique spectacle in this area - a traditional craft used to make contemporary sculpture.

The Bullpen Gallery
Faringdon Road
Stanford in the Vale
Oxfordshire
SN7 8NP

01367 718722

For further information please contact Helen or Sioban