The much awaited ‘Wight Dragon’ structure is due to be unveiled shortly at Coppins Bridge.
Pupils at the Clatterford Tuition Centre in Newport have been working hard on the art project with Isle of Wight artist Glenn Martin which is due to be unveiled at a special ceremony at 2.30pm today.
‘The Wight Dragon’ will be taking pride of place at Coppins Bridge roundabout in Newport throughout the summer, and taking a temporary jaunt to Bestival in September.
The Clatterford Centre caters for young people in Key Stages 3 and 4 with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It offers support for young people at risk of exclusion, permanently excluded or those who arrive on the Island and have difficulty in being placed in a school immediately due to their circumstances.
The artwork, which as been created with reclaimed and recycled materials, depicts a dragon. Standing at four and a half metres tall, it should attract attention to passers-by.
Well done to all the young people involved in the project which was part funded by the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership (formerly known as the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership).
We’re told that the design of the dragon is based on an old folklore tale about what the Island looks like.
In ancient times, the chalk downs which form the central spine of the Island were thought to resemble a dragon, with its tail being The Needles and its head at Bembridge Foreland. Below Culver Cliff, a small cove called ‘The Nostrils’ supposedly forms part of the creature’s head.
We couldn’t make it along to the unveiling, so if any VB readers catch a good shot of the sculpture today, do please send one through to accompany the article.
Many thanks to Auntie P for sending through a quick shot of he sculpture.
