The Norwich Gorillas ...............

[chenrezig]

In 2013 there is going to be a "parade" of Gorillas in Norwich, along the mines of the Elephants one they had a few years back. I was in the Castle Mall in Norwich and an empty shop is being used to paint some of them ...

They are really big ... as tall as I am (I'm 5ft 3") maybe even a few inches taller. The lady who was painting this one hadn't expected them to be quite as big either lol

[wendy]

thank you for this.,  Did you see it on the TV.  Mick is in charge once again.
It is something to look forward to for Norwich.

[chenrezig]

I haven't seen anything on TV but I have read a lot in the paper about it, I will be popping back from time to time to see how they are getting on with the Gorillas they are painting in the Castle Mall

[maureenho]

I would love to paint one.

[chenrezig]

Just for you Mo...got your crayons at the ready ?

[wendy]

I took a look how much it was to sponser a gorilla and have one for your charity on the trail.

£4,000

xmas19

http://gogogorillas.co.uk/

[Misspears]

than999

[wendy]

[annie]

happi

[chenrezig]

Popped into city for a cuppa as fed up staying in ... just going to n from city on the bus I spotted no less than NINE of the gorillas... got pics fo four on my mobile so wehn I got home I printed off a map n will be going hunting next week ...

"Ironape" in Timberhill



"Jungle Jenny" on Hay Hill neat to Next



"Ray" outside Top Shop



"Gonzo" in London street outside what used to be Habitat

[wendy]

Wonderful, many thanks, I look forward to seeing more and I can't wait to go into Norwich.

[Misspears]

Brilliant.  than999

Ann x

[maureenho]

They are fantastic photos Liz  23m 23m 23m

Read in the paper the Gorillas will be there till Sept 7th, I'd like to get into city and see them when it's quiet one Sunday.

[annie]

Brilliant pics Liz

[wendy]

this is Mik my daughter is friends with him she went to school with his wife.



Mik Richardson
Sponsor: 1. Almary Green 2. Brandbank 3. Norfolk County FA 4. Break 5. Victory Housing Trust
Sculpture Name: 1. Juno 2. Freddy "Radio Go Go" Gorila 3. Gladstone 4. Nelson 5. Gonzo

Mik was born in Yorkshire and grew up in the seaside town of Whitby. At 16 he joined the Royal Air Force as an engineer. He always loved art (especially Sci-fi and fantasy) and while serving in Germany in the early 80s, he came across some stunning fantasy works by an artist called Chris Achellios, and was hooked.

During his time in the RAF, as well as designing artwork for squadron t-shirts, prints and for detachments, Mik was able to create nose art for the fighter jets and large murals on walls and hangar doors at military bases across the globe.

When he left the RAF in 2006, he was asked by an old acquaintance to create an 18ft mural at his school. This was to be the first of many mural commissions which followed and Mik was employed by Creative Arts East as a graffiti tutor.

Since then, he has completed over 300 murals and held countless graffiti workshops working for various schools, youth groups and companies such as NR5 Future project, Creative Arts East, BBC, North Norfolk Council, Connexions, Norfolk Police, Break charity and many others.

Mik has been involved in some great public art events including: BBC Countryfile; the Olympic Torch Relay; Tour of Britain; Wild In Art’s Go Elephants, Go Safari Northampton and Pride of Northampton projects; the North Walsham Hippo Trail; The Big Draw; BBC Blast; the Royal Norfolk Show; the Out There Festival; Hunstanton Lifestyles Festival. He is delighted to be taking part in Break charity and Wild in Art’s Go Go Gorillas 2013.

[wendy]

Baby GoGoGorillas tour Norwich on double-decker Routemaster bus

Emma Knights Friday, June 28, 2013
5:30 PM

It was all aboard for an “ape” day out as baby gorillas toured the city on a double-decker bus to launch the GoGoGorillas! school trail in Norwich. 

More than 12,000 children from schools and groups across Norfolk have been decorating the 67 colourful characters, and on Friday the little gorillas were delivered to their new homes for the summer on a double-decker Routemaster bus.

Armed with bananas to make sure the little apes did not go hungry, bus driver David Brown, from Norwich-based Awayadays, had the job of taking the unusual passengers to their different trail locations which include shops, cafes and other venues across the city centre.

They started their journey from City College Norwich, where children from City College Nursery waved them off.

Mr Brown said: “The gorillas have been attracting quite a lot of attention. It was quite an exciting day –and at least the little gorillas sat still on the bus, not like the little monkeys on the 22!”

The school trail links in with the outdoor art trail of 53 adult gorillas that is already causing excitement in the city, and both trails have been organised by children’s charity Break and Wild in Art.

The whole GoGoGorillas! project aims to raise funds for Break and the Born Free Foundation.

Fiona Muller, education coordinator for Wild in Art, said: “The little gorillas are in shops, restaurants and cafes in Norwich for the next 12 weeks.

[chenrezig]

Thanks for the reminder about the little Gorilla's, I will see how many of them I can get too

[chenrezig]

I HAVE DUNNIT ! Got my last gorilla this am ...

http://s868.photobucket.com/user/chenre ... LAS?sort=3

[maureenho]

23m 23m 23m

Liz they are wonderful, must have taken you ages to do, they are all so good I can't pick a favorite one.

than999 than999

[wendy]

they are magnificent and it must have given you alot of extra work to do this for us.
thank you so much.
I can't make my mind up which is my favourite, but I like the one outside the Cathedral with Stephen Fry on it.
than999 than999 than999

[mumxtwo]

happi to you Liz happi

A wonderful set of photos!  I couldn't begin to pick a favourite. Such imagination and creativity makes me even more proud to be a Norfolk Girl!


than999 than999 than999

[debzsanderson]

happi well done xx

[chenrezig]

The replacement for Freddie is  at the Forum from today...

“Freddie” is back !

After meeting Wendy n Barry for our Weds am cuppa, I had a wander round the city and ended up at the Forum… the missing gorilla is back, albeit with changes…









It has made the news as well … 

A Freddie Mercury caricature gorilla sculpture has been returned to a Norwich art trail after a facelift was agreed with the rock musician's estate. The work, featuring Mercury's yellow bolero jacket, was removed on 8 July after the singer's estate objected to its facial features.

Break, the charity which organised the Go Go Gorillas trail said it had to "respect" the request.
Artist Mik Richardson said the new gorilla was lacking "a sense of fun". Mr Richardson, from Aylsham, said: "Freddie now has the face of a proper gorilla that has taken more than 16 hours to paint by hand using about 15,000 brush strokes. "I've tried to make a realistic, leathered looking, gorilla face - that's tinted with a hint of amber. This technique has made sure he looks different to all the others on the trail. "I'm very pleased with the artwork, but his sense of fun has now gone - which is a shame as that's what these trails are all about."

Writing on his blog, Queen guitarist Brian May said the estate was "quite within their rights" to request "an update to the paint job".

Musical 'legend'
The sculpture, named Freddie "Radio Go Go" Gorilla, is one of 53 life-sized glass fibre western lowland gorillas, placed around the city centre as part of a summer-long exhibition.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-23327454

This is what it looked like before ...



I think it is amazing with the gorilla head, though I really do miss the moustache

Liz

[wendy]

I think it was better before they altered it.

[maureenho]

I prefered the first one, all they have done is charged the face.