TrustNews Sep 22

Hares of Hampshire: an art trail in Winchester

Arthur Morgan on some colourful additions to the city

 

Since 16 June Winchester (and Southampton) has been host to a drove of giant hares and their leverets strategically placed around and about our inner city.

 

 

These eye-catching creatures have been further transformed into highly individual creative statements with rich, decorative designs painted onto their surfaces based on ideas and imagery reflecting our special environment, natural and man-made, and pertinent visual references to our history and cultural heritage. Each hare invites scrutiny to encourage learning and reflection by enjoyment through art, and on each plinth there are brief notes to inform and explain.

 

There is a nice balance between the serious and the whimsical (note their titles), and we are reminded that art doesn't have to be great to be effective - it can be just for fun and be none the less for that!

 

The hares were inspired by The Murray Parish Trust, a charity dedicated to paediatric emergency medicine in memory of their daughter; the creative engine that made this possible was through Wild in Art, a business that specializes in model castings of animals and has successfully created such charitable causes. It has taken something like two years to put all this together, not least inviting artists nationwide to submit competitive designs, gaining sponsorship and involving local schools to participate (in the decoration of the leverets).

 

All the hares and leverets will be gathered in the Great Hall for a final public viewing 9 -1 1 September prior to a Grand Auction on 13 September.

 

See also haresofhampshire.co.uk