Led by the internationally renowned Aardman Animations, Gromit Unleashed is a public art exhibition in the city of Bristol. Giant fibreglass sculptures of Gromit, standing 5ft tall, will be unleashed onto the streets of Bristol and the surrounding area this summer.
Each sculpture will be individually designed and created by invited artists, creating a trail of seventy unique pieces of art and will form an art exhibition for ten weeks from 1st July unitl 8th September 2013.
The Artists
Famous names announced so far include Gromit creator, Nick Park, Aardman co-founder, Peter Lord, the man behind The Snowman, Raymond Briggs, Axel Scheffler, who drew children's favourite The Gruffalo and inventor of the wind-up radio, Trevor Baylis. Around 40 local artists from Bristol and the region have also been selected to design a Gromit for the trail. A broad range of creative and colourful designs were chosen with entries depicting nature and Bristol themes. Over 500 designs were submitted by artists, including entries from across the globe.
Harry Hill, winner of three BAFTAs and seven British Comedy Awards, has announced his support for Gromit Unleashed and has already unveiled his decorated, giant Gromit sculpture to the famous character’s creator Nick Park – the first of the project’s finished designs to be revealed. Harry explained:
“Wallace and Gromit have world fame and are iconic British characters - it’s like being given Mickey Mouse, you feel a certain responsibility before you start to splash the paint on. I decided my Gromit should raise awareness of male baldness. I’m not quite bald but I’m balding, so I’ve shaved Gromit back to his pink skin and put a bit of stubble on him.
“I’ll be sure to make every effort to come back for the trail. Bristol’s a great city and you can’t get a much better cause than raising money for a children’s hospital.”
Come and visit
Now is the time to plan your trip to Bristol to make the most of this incredible trail... As you discover Gromit around the city, you’ll also be able to walk Brunel’s iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, relax on a boat trip around the Harbourside and see Bristol’s famed original street art.
And Gromit has definitely chosen the right time to be unleashed in Bristol. With a packed line up of events and festivals, and a whole host of exciting attractions to explore, it’s clear to see why summer is the ideal time to visit the city!
