December 2008

So from Elephants to Penguins, and a fun project with the Cauldwell Children charity. With the help of myself and two other artists, Tim Edwards and Fiona Muller, a hospital, hospice, school and youth group were all helped to paint a life size emperor penguin model in a design of their choosing.

also this month I have been running animation workshops in Norfolk libraries with Tim, from UniQpictures on the theme of Heroes and Villains.

September 2008

Elephant Auction!

Norwich's much loved elephants raised a staggering £203,000 at a charity auction last night, more than double the sum predicted and in addition to nearly the same amount already donated through sponsorship. Feeling Fruity sold for £6000, so a big thank you to the winning bidder!

Huzzah! Work begins on the first "Mini-Fruity" commission, a miniature replica of the larger Elephant that is out on the street. The picture shows one of the finished fruity miniatures.

Congratulations and a huge thank you to all the staff and students of Istituto Comprensivo "G.Garibaldi", in Chiavenna, Italy. I've just spent two weeks as a drama-coordinator working with Italian students on a performance in English.

The final "spettacolo" was a great success, as testified by many parents who spoke to me afterwards, and a credit to the hard work of all the English Experience staff. Also a huge thanks to my host family, and their wonderful patience and hospitality.

August 2008

The Ele-Vet repair work continues, with much of the damage being caused at the weekends by people who have had a few too many. Many of the sculptures seem to have holes appearing in the surface finish, but if this is from vandalism or manufacturing defects, it is unclear.

Sadly I have also had to reattach the explorer head to "Are we on the right Trail" outside Cinema City, after someone had decapitated him. Fiona from the Forum Trust had the very surreal experience of having to carry a severed head through the city streets in a carrier bag!

July 2008

The streets of Norwich are bustling with elephants and you only have to look at peoples reactions to see how popular they are. Sadly local scum de terre have taken it upon themselves to spoil everyone's enjoyment and a spate of vandalism has put some of our pachyderm pals out of action. Thankfully all is not lost, and the Forum Trust have appointed me an "Ele-Vet".

Golden Child has had a spot of keyhole surgery with some fiberglass and body filler and once it's artist has done some touching up should be back on the streets in no time at all. Lets just hope someone returns Parallelephant's ears!

May 2008

Go Elephants!

This summer, the Forum Trust in association with "Wild at Art" have organised a city wide art trail, Commissioning Artists to paint or decorate 50 life size fibreglass baby elephant sculptures. After submitting a number of designs earlier in the year, local businesses and organisations chose which they would like to sponsor.

My commission, entitled Feeling Fruity will be on display on the corner of Saint Stephens street and Surrey street from 23rd June to 31st August. Come and check it out!

For some pictures of the finished elephant prior to varnishing look here.

March 2008

Congratulations to those Involved in the Green Machine project for Media Projects East. After a week of intensive film making, animating and puppetry the films are finished and ready to present. To come to the free screening at Norwich Puppet Theatre on Sat 29th March, contact the booking office.

Green Machine and Media Projects East Website can be found here.

January 2008

SAVE NORWICH PUPPET THEATRE!

PROTEST! To be held Jan 19th, Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich from 11.30am. Guest speakers, music, performance and a carnival atmosphere.

After 27 years of entertaining both children and adults, Norwich Puppet Theatre has been told that it is to lose £60,000 worth of funding from Arts Council England. This would mean that the internationally renowned theatre would have to close, and Norwich and the UK would be culturally poorer for it.

Thankfully this has yet to be set in stone, and more will be known after January 23rd when the ACE convene to make their final decision

Therefore we need you! Local press, councilors, artists, musicians and performers have joined the rallying cry to overturn this ill conceived proposal.

Please sign the online petition on the EDP website. For continued and up to date information see the Norwich Evening News Pages.

October 2007

The Davenport Trust 'Happening', happened very successfully, with positive comments from both the cast and audience. Local press were there to cover the event and all the performances were filmed, so I will hopefully have some images soon.

Continuing work on "Colonel Viper and Camilla" A walk-about performance of a Victorian explorer and his pet Dinosaur.

Course Tutor position for the NCFE in Animation has begun. I'm looking forward to seeing what the adult class will create!

7th Oct 07

New website is nearly ready to go, just making final adjustments. Set being Built for the Davenport Trusts Landscape of Depression theatre piece to be performed in Norwich on World Mental Health day (Oct 10th)