Visitors and new friends..

There have been comments that he has a lovely bottom..this photo also shows the colour change of the mosaic tiles..


A helper polishing the feet to make them very shiny


The Cole's Miller African Sunset mosaic lion is starting to get a personality and has now got black eyes with a very small piece of gold in the middle that should sparkle in the sunshine when outside. The lion, (still to be named) has had his photo taken by Sally the photographer of the Daily Echo and he was a showoff! Surrounded by the many different colours tiles that make up his new coat, he had his best side on show, and I was in the photo too.

He has also had many different visitors and friends come and say 'hello'. Charlie from Wild in Art, gave him a little stroke, pupils from nearby St.Michael's Primary school came to stick a couple of tiles on, whilst choosing books for their homework projects and even some of the parents stuck a couple of tiles too. Many of the 'lion' books have been checked out of the library, so their are many children learning and reading great stories about lions somewhere in Bournemouth ..
Cole's Miller are also sponsoring St.Michael's lion, so fingers crossed both lions will meet in the near future when they both have their new decorated coats.
Our lion has a new friend, a blackboard lion who he will share the Children's section with for the near future. I promise to take some photos tomorrow and post, so you can see the progress.

stories coming alive in the library

Mosaicing the lion in the library has given me 'food for thought' today. I have met some lovely people and has reminded me why I love working with art projects in the community.
I am mosaicing this lion in the children's section of the library, with small benches and storybook galore nearby.
I had been privileged to hear some wonderful stories - parents reading storybooks to their younger children, complete with different voices of the characters, children sitting in ore waiting for the next instalment. I have had parents talking to me whilst their child has been sticking, telling of small snippets of their lives and funny ditties and waiting to stick their own tiles too.

I had also heard heartfelt stories of bravery, that I could not imagine and could never understand and totally admire their determination and personal strength and love for others. Stories of crazy fundraising events coming up and the reasons why the fundraising is just so important; having a moment to talk to someone I wouldn't normally chat too from young to old. Seeing children's' and adults faces light up simply sticking their tiles and being part of the mosaic jigsaw. A simple act making the bigger picture, or lion in this case!

This project reaches an audience that wouldn't interact in day to day situations and being able to say 'Would like like to stick a tile on my lion?' and knowing that come the summer, different 'pockets' of our Bournemouth community could walk up to this lion and say 'That's my bit, I stuck on in the library'. 'Pride in Bournemouth' ( see the link there? oh, it's here: www.prideinbournemouth.com )
I'm a lucky girl seeing this project coming alive and meeting wonderful people and hearing their mini stories, how fitting for a library! I promise to bring more photos for you to see the progress of the nameless lion soon..

There's a lion in Bournemouth library!

The start of the African baobab tree with real gold highlights! -

He's looking a little LEGO yellow at the moment, but he has his 'shoes, a couple of legs mosaiced..

Staff from a local school want to stick a 'bit' too after their students have had a go!

Mike and Dave community officers come to help too!

Families are all getting involved..

Heather was the first person to stick on a tile..

A lion in the library...!

The news of lions 'taking over' Bournemouth in the summer has started to spread! Bournemouth will host 'Pride In Bournemouth' ,a public art event with lions in our streets and in our shop windows for all to see. There will be a trail map and we'll be able to search for them all!

'So what, summer is months away!' I hear you cry..well, the lions have already started to appear in strange places..such as Bournemouth library children's section.

Yes, you read that right - the library..

Poppies Art Workshops have been commissoned by Coles Miller, solicitors to mosaic a lion with the help of the public in the library. The design is of an 'African Sunset' in rich reds, oranges, yellows and even gold. We have been working hard and have had many different visitors including Hannah Perry from Cole Miller, Mike, a community officer, schools galore, families, tourists from Japan, Canada and even Switzerland to name a few. Some children have come back a couple of times to help and see the progress.

He is starting to look like the design, but another 6 colours will be added to make sure the colours blend well together, as he looks a little 'blocky' at the moment...watch this space for more information.