Spinning Like a Top, a colourful new mural featuring dynamic body portraits of local schoolchildren dancing and moving is about to be revealed at a special launch event on 13 July on the fences surrounding the Pontio site on Deiniol Road, Bangor.
Following on from the success of last year’s mural, Ein Dinas (Our City), which depicts portraits of Bangor characters created by local school pupils, Gwynedd Arts Forum has teamed up with Pontio for a second time to commission this stunning new piece of public art from Porthmadog-based SURGERY Digital Arts Research.
SURGERY DAR artists, Tessa Elliott and Jonathan Jones-Morris, together with acrobalance performer Ceri Rimmer, ran creative workshops throughout June for children in years 5 and 6 from Ysgol Glan Cegin, Ysgol y Felinheli, Ysgol y Faenol and Ysgol Cae Top. Encouraged to experiment with movement and balance, the children were photographed as they danced and spun to create a series of iconic digital body portraits, which were then projected and manipulated by the children themselves.
With an impressive portfolio of digital artwork being showcased around the World including China, the Netherlands and London, Surgery DAR has also been involved running numerous community projects and interactive workshops here in North Wales.
Describing how the body portraits for the new mural were created, Tessa of SURGERY DAR explained: “We constructed an unique software to capture real-time images. The focus was on action. Ceri, our acrobalance teacher, taught the children how to create movements, varying from hip-hop styles to capoeira and circus skills, and using fun props such as ribbons, peacock feathers and hula-hoops.”
She continued: “The children loved it – all dressed up in colourful costumes, stripy socks, tutus and hats to create interesting shapes and striking outlines.”
“The beauty of this project was that every child who took part, of every ability, had the opportunity to experiment with both digital production and performance and, by doing so, gained an insight into a unique area of performance and contemporary digital practice.”
Robert O’Dowd, Chief Executive of the Pontio project, said: “We’re very proud to unveil such a fantastic new mural on the fences surrounding the Pontio site. This fascinating project has enabled over 100 local schoolchildren to explore their creative skills in both the sciences and the arts, giving them a chance to express themselves and make their mark on the City’s landscape.”
He added: “The stretch of fencing along Deiniol Road where the mural will be displayed is visited by hundreds of passers-by each day, making this the perfect spot to showcase such an inspirational piece of public art. This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate Pontio’s creative potential as preparation works continue on site, and we hope that the mural will inspire a feeling of pride in the community.”
Gwynedd Arts Forum Secretary Gwawr Wyn Roberts said: “The Gwynedd Arts Forum are very pleased to be able to work in partnership with Pontio on a second arts project. The Forum places a strong emphasis on participation in the arts and this project has enabled a large amount of local school children to play a part in the Pontio development.”
The project gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Bangor University, the Arts Council of Wales, Gwynedd Council and the Gwynedd Arts Forum.
For more information about SURGERY – Digital Art Research, visit: http://surgerydar.co.uk
The pupils from Ysgol y Faenol, Ysgol Cae Top, Ysgol Felinheli told us:
“Oh, it was amazing, awesome, we don’t normally get to do things like this, it was fantastic.”
“I really enjoyed everything. This is the best [workshop] I’ve ever been to.”
“Very exciting and new, very interesting.”
“A very good experience, having the opportunity to do art ….. and showing what skills you’ve got.”
“We’ve enjoyed the computer and the way we did special effects.”
“Fun, entertaining, excellent.”
“I really liked learning the circus skills.”
“Very good. Cool.”
“We really enjoyed dressing up and working with the computer as well.”
“I found it very learning and enjoyable.”
“I’m very happy that I have had fun here.”
“I really like the stuff on screen.”
“I’d give it 10 out of 10. If it was a million, I’d give it a million.”
Photograph: Pupils from local schools taking part in the Spinning Like a Top project
