Giant Wooden Toys Capture Magic Of Christmas
4 December 2009
Wood Sculptor Andrew Frost.
It's coming! Hundreds of shoppers will get the chance to explore the magical Christmas Playground in Derby city centre when it officially opens next week.
A VIP event will formally launch the playground which features a range of giant wooden sculptures crafted by sculptor Andrew Frost to celebrate Derby's heritage, culture and diverse community.
The Christmas Playground will connect communities, the private and public sectors and local arts organisations through this absorbing attraction in Derby's Cathedral Quarter, the cultural heart of the city.
There are a number of sculptures representing key partners in the project including two penguins (University of Derby), a car (Toyota), a train (Bombardier), a jet engine (Rolls-Royce), a soldier (Derby City Council) and a bear (Royal Crown Derby).
University of Derby psychologist Simon Bignell says the wooden toys theme is perfect for the festive season. He said: "For most people, festive shapes, sounds and colours encourage the brain to associate objects, such as traditional wooden toys, with a time in our own early development when we were lavished with gifts and felt feelings of safety and security.
"Traditional children's Christmas presents such as wooden toys, dolls' prams and carpenter sets not only serve to rekindle the magic of our own childhood Christmases but also foster imaginative play, encourage cooperative learning and according to one recent study may actually be better for children's learning than high-tech gadgets."
Once the festivities are over, the sculptures will be moved to the Royal Derby Hospital for the recreational enjoyment of the hospital's community and visitors.
The £60,000 project has been created and led by Katapult, the Derby-based marketing agency. Contributions have been made up of £20,000 from the public sector, Derby City Council and Arts Council England, and £40,000 of charitable and private sector funds. Partners include Bombardier, the Cathedral Quarter Derby, City Centre Management Derby, Derby City Council, Derby County Football Club, Derby Hospitals, Derby LIVE, QUAD, Rolls-Royce plc, Royal Crown Derby, Simon Foote Architects, Toyota and the University of Derby.
Dawn Foote, Managing Director of Katapult said: "Andrew Frost's use of wood links with the sense of nostalgia and traditional family values that the works are intended to invoke, which fitted perfectly with the vision of the project.
"The idea is to create an experience which will remind people of these values and will attract complementary activities like carol singing and areas for spending time with family and friends.
"The project is unique to Derbyshire and will bind its world-class manufacturing and creative industries, which are key to Derby's heritage and make-up."
Derby City Centre manager Melanie Allen said: "Derby's Christmas Playground is an excellent showcase of usable public art. I am sure that the children will love climbing over the wooden toys while parents take a moment's relaxation from Christmas shopping in Derby."
And Martin Langsdale, Chair of the Cathedral Quarter management group said: "The Christmas Playground fits in perfectly with the Cathedral Quarter's ethos as an area that is individual, diverse and inspiring.
"We are confident that this will prove to be a fantastic draw into the area for people from far and wide who will then take the opportunity to sample the delights of the Cathedral Quarter - whether they want to shop, eat or visit one of the many other cultural and leisure attractions in the area."
There is another date in the diary because on December 10 at midday, 90 children from three schools will be bringing along the wooden Christmas decorations which were supplied by the Christmas Playground project to be hung on the Christmas tree in the Market Place.
Each decoration has been individually decorated by children in the classroom and also in free workshops which took place at QUAD, which were fully booked. The wooden shapes range from snowmen to candy canes. Some of the cast of Cinderella, the Derby LIVE Panto, will be attending to help hang the decorations. The schools involved are: St Mary's Catholic School, Little Eaton Primary School and Bishop Lonsdale CE Primary School.
For more details about the project and activities in the Christmas Playground visit the website: www.christmasplayground.co.uk
Contact Details Dawn Foote: 01332 294416 or 07974 245374 or email: dawn@katapult-studios.com
