aMazing Gromit by Tom Berry So this summer Wallace and Gromit fans have had a real treat in and around Bristol. Eighty large Gromit models were made, painted by an array of artists, exhibited in all sorts of locations and then collected together for an auction. If you didn't know Wallace and Gromit hail from Bristol because it is here that Aardman Animations (they of Morph, Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep fame and more) have their studios. And for many years they have specifically helped raise money for the Bristol Children's Hospital (they even have Wallace's voice speaking the floors in the hospital lifts). So we have Wrong Trousers Day each year, and this year to beat the Gorillas in London, pigs in Bath, Swans in Wells and the like, they went for Gromits.
Given the fervent fan base for W&G this was always going to be a big hit but it became bigger than any imagined. People came for far and wide (and many from abroad) to hunt and photograph themselves with the illusive and humorous Gromits. Whilst most we in Bristol they did slip a few a bit further away, including Paddington Station and Bristol International Airport. And we were lucky to have one here in Cheddar by the caves, less than 10 minutes' walk from the cottage. This one painted by Tom Berry was called "aMazing Gromit" and the complex hand drawn leaf pattern is a real maze to be traced:
Given the fervent fan base for W&G this was always going to be a big hit but it became bigger than any imagined. People came for far and wide (and many from abroad) to hunt and photograph themselves with the illusive and humorous Gromits. Whilst most we in Bristol they did slip a few a bit further away, including Paddington Station and Bristol International Airport. And we were lucky to have one here in Cheddar by the caves, less than 10 minutes' walk from the cottage. This one painted by Tom Berry was called "aMazing Gromit" and the complex hand drawn leaf pattern is a real maze to be traced:
"I imagine Gromit turning into 'Treegromit' whilst getting lost in Leigh Woods.
The tree motif that covers him is also a maze - can you navigate from the starting
point on his right ear through the forest to the safety of the cottage on his tail?"
The tree motif that covers him is also a maze - can you navigate from the starting
point on his right ear through the forest to the safety of the cottage on his tail?"
aMazing Gromit drew lots of fans. Sadly he is no longer in Cheddar: all the Gromits were collected together in Bristol for a viewing that then led on to an auction. The viewing became almost as popular as the Banksy exhibition in BRistol a few years ago, with queues of thousands in the streets trying to get in, traffic disruppted and extra days added. Finally all this generated £2,357,000.00 for the Grand Appeal charity If you want to see more about it all go to the website:
Gromit Unleashed.
The best bit is the photo gallery which shows the incredible inventiveness of the various artists.
Gromit Unleashed.
The best bit is the photo gallery which shows the incredible inventiveness of the various artists.
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