With the ‘Catch Me Who Can’ Bridgnorth Art Trail due to be officially launched tomorrow, the Year 12 Bridgnorth Endowed art students involved in the project can be extremely proud of their achievements.
Led by Bridgnorth Town Council, the community-wide project to develop and install a new statue trail to showcase local artists’ work, will finally be realised. The aim was to create a family attraction for residents and tourists alike, promoting the heritage, art and natural beauty of the town.
At the start of the year, a group of seven A-Level art students, with teacher, Louise Rhodes, attended a meeting to recruit local artists to design and paint the statues that would make up the town’s new walking trail.
Following a public poll, people voted overwhelmingly for a train as the preferred statue shape and, as Richard Trevithick’s 17th Century Catch Me Who Can locomotive was constructed in Bridgnorth, it was the obvious choice.
Each student submitted their design, alongside a number of professional artists from the area, and, of the 12 statues being installed around the town, the Bridgnorth Endowed team was chosen to work on two – one for Grainger & Worrall, the second for Filtermist.
Selection committee member, Councillor Julia Buckley reports: “The students from Bridgnorth Endowed School entered some of the strongest submissions and we could have used more of the designs as they were so good.”
“They did extremely well with the whole process, which involved meeting and getting to know the sponsor companies, pitching their ideas and working with them to agree on the final designs.”
Paintbrushes at the ready
Delivery of the blank statues, in April, signalled the start of the production process so, paintbrushes at the ready, it was time for the concepts to come to life. The challenge was to transfer the designs from paper to a 3-dimensional format.
Student, Rebecca Grubb, comments: “We had to learn how to see past the shape and awkward angles to pursue a unique design.”
After weeks of sketching, painting, poring over fine details, and revising the designs to fit the medium, the statues were finally collected in June, ready to be prepared for installation.
Art teacher, Louise Rhodes, reflects on how the project has armed the students with skills beyond the actual artwork: “It was vital they worked together as a team to overcome any difficulties, and they had to learn how to liaise with the sponsor companies, interpret instructions and manage their time efficiently.”
Art is popular subject at Bridgnorth Endowed and the department is always eager to take on live projects for the students to showcase their abilities. As well as the statues, other ventures this year have included a ‘Legends’ banner for the annual Arts Festival in Thiers and a Christianity frieze at St Mary’s School.
On the eve of the trail launch, the school is keen to pay tribute to its A-Level art students and commend their hard work, dedication and highly professional attitude towards this exciting community project.
When asked what they enjoyed most about working on the project, the students said:
“Although time-consuming and stressful at times, it’s been amazing to watch our work develop and the piece come together.” – Amy Henshaw
“Having such a unique canvas and working with local influences.” – Rebecca Grubb
“Working as a team with other talented students.” – Molly Craig
“Visiting and working with the sponsor companies and learning about the strengths within our art group.” – Amy Pattison
“The collaboration with large companies and to be able to pull on each other’s strengths to produce a fantastic piece of art.” – Holly Tyrls
“Working independently on individual parts of the statues.” – Edward Humphries
“Going to meetings and drinking their amazing coffee.” – Chloe Maddock
