WOW! It's a gorilla flotilla from Bristol Zoo Gardens

30/06/2011

Categories: Official press releases

An unusual sight will brighten Bristol’s harbourside on Monday (July 4^th) when a gorilla flotilla launches Bristol Zoo’s summer art spectacle.

A selection of colourful, life-size gorilla sculptures will sail into the city in spectacular style, aboard three boats from the Bristol Ferry Boat Company, to officially launch Wow! Gorillas – a mass public art trail across the streets of Bristol. There will also be a water display in the floating harbour from the historic fire-boat, Pyronaut.

Sixty, unique ‘Wow! Gorillas’ sculptures will appear all over the streets and parks of Bristol from July 4, for everyone to enjoy in celebration of Bristol Zoo’s 175^th birthday year.

Monday’s launch event will begin with the flotilla arriving into Bristol’s floating harbour at 11.15am. The boats will then take the gorilla sculptures on a journey along the river and past the new M-Shed museum. 

The flotilla will then head past the Thekla and under Prince Street swing bridge, before finishing their journey outside the Arnolfini, where a selection of other Wow! Gorillas sculptures will be on display.

Each of the 60 sculptures has been sponsored by organisations, businesses and charities from across the region, and decorated in their own unique style by talented local artists.

Around 100 small gorillas will also pop up all over the region, sponsored and decorated by youngsters from across the city’s primary schools and nurseries.

Dr Bryan Carroll, Director of Bristol Zoo said: “This summer is Bristol Zoo’s 175^th birthday and we wanted to celebrate this milestone with the whole of Bristol and beyond. We hope these fantastic gorillas will unite residents, visitors, schools, artists and businesses in a city-wide celebration of the Zoo’s big birthday.

“They are absolutely brilliant to look at, and a lot of hard work has gone into producing them. The support for this wonderful project has been amazing and we hope the people of Bristol will enjoy them and be proud of what the city has come together to create.”

Dr Carroll added: “As well as showcasing the wealth of creative talent the city has to offer, this public exhibition will attract tourists to Bristol, while encouraging Bristolians to be tourists in their own city. The trail also aims to engender civic pride, stimulate the local economy and create a fun event for everyone to enjoy. Not only this, but they will raise valuable funds for two very worthy causes - gorilla conservation and Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal.”

Lauren Vincent, Fundraising Manager from Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal, The Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “The Grand Appeal is delighted to be part of the Wow! Gorillas project and it will be so exciting to see the Gorillas arrive into Bristol in all their glory.”

The gorillas will be set in place around the city from July 4-6. The public will then be able to see them at some of Bristol’s many famous landmarks for 10 weeks.

Once the 10-week exhibition has come to an end, the sculptures will be sold at a prestigious charitable auction in Clifton, on September 29, to raise money for Bristol Zoo’s gorilla conservation projects and Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal, which raises funds for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. The small gorillas will be returned to their respective schools.

Lauren Vincent added: “We are very much looking forward to the auction of the Gorillas in September, which will raise vital funds for our Echocardiogram Appeal which will help save the lives of sick children at Bristol Children’s Hospital.”

Wow! Gorillas has been created by Bristol Zoo Gardens in partnership with Bristol City Council and Wild in Art which promotes art through the use of unique animal sculptures as three dimensional artist’s canvas.

To find out more about Bristol Zoo’s ‘Wow! Gorillas’ project, visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/wow-gorillas.

 

About Bristol Zoo Gardens

• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work. 
• This year Bristol Zoo celebrates its 175^th anniversary and wants to do more than celebrate.
• Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes  all over the world, showed 40 million school aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
• Throughout the year Bristol Zoo will be bringing people, businesses, charities and wildlife together to share amazing experiences that raise awareness and funds to save threatened wildlife and places. To find out more, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on
• The Zoo will be focusing its efforts on raising funds and awareness in support of gorilla conservation and will be supporting the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ape Campaign.
• The EAZA Ape campaign aims to make a significant and lasting contribution to the continued survival of apes and their habitats, and is being led by Dr Bryan Carroll, the Director of Bristol Zoo. www.bristolzoo.org.uk/conservation-campaigns.
• Bristol Zoo has supported and been actively in gorilla conservation in Cameroon since 1998.

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