SCULPTURE EXHIBITION 'AVENUE OF CHAMPIONS' BY BEN DEARNLEY
23 June - 16 September 2012
Ben Dearnley brings his Avenue of Champions to Salisbury Cathedral for three months from 23 June - 16 September to coincide with the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics. His sculptures focus on the ‘power zones’ of twelve of some of the UK’s past and current Olympic and Paralympic champions and are sculpted in the timeless materials of bronze and marble. They will be located in the cathedral’s cloisters where visitors will be able to walk through the ‘Avenue’ viewing each sculpted athlete as they go.
Dearnley describes the exhibition saying: “My work here is an exploration into the world of some of the UK’s top Olympic and Paralympics athletes. I wanted to create a series of sculptures which honour and celebrate their achievements and reflect their individual commitment and excellence within their sport. The sculptures hold something of the power zone of each individual athlete, which I see as pivotal to them being the best in the world at what they do. As such each work is a collaboration between athlete and sculptor, understanding their body's action and capturing the 'moment' in a fragmented form.”
Mark Bonney, chairman of the Cathedral’s Exhibitions Committee, said “The decision to host this collection of work at Salisbury Cathedral is inspired by London 2012 and is the Cathedral’s celebration of this great national moment. It is also a celebration of the transformative power of sport as well as human beings’ ability to make the most of the bodies and talents they are given. Ben Dearnley also has an extra special connection with the Cathedral as he born in The Close as his late father, Christopher Dearnley, was Director of Music here.”
The exhibition is curated by Jacquiline Creswell, the cathedral's Visual Arts Advisor.
The Cathedral’s Education Department will be running a full programme of supporting projects alongside the exhibition.
IMPORTANT DATES
Ben Dearnley Exhibition ‘Avenue of Champions’ at Salisbury Cathedral
Saturday 23 June – Sunday 16 September (9.00am – 5.00pm Mon-Sat, 12.00 – 4.00pm Sun)
Olympic Torch visits Salisbury
Arrives late Wednesday 11 July (event at Hudson’s Field, Salisbury) and visits Salisbury Cathedral early morning on Thurs 12 July 2012
London Olympic Games 2012
27 July - 12 Aug 2012
Paralympic Games
29 Aug - 9 Sept 2012
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