Warm welcome to 'Sunflower Valley'
A series of unusual sunflowers made by local schools in an
innovative Vale of Glamorgan Council project are featured in a new
exhibition at the Art Central gallery in Barry Town Hall.
The gallery has been transformed into a 'Sunflower Valley' for
the summer holidays with giant sunflowers made by 16 local schools
. . . from a load of rubbish.
The project is one in a series organised to link the council’s
waste awareness and arts development programmes. Previous
initiatives include the annual decoration of Penarth Pier at
Christmas, and, in a national green award winning initiative, a
giant sweet inspired grotto at Dyffryn Gardens.
The projects are
organised to encourage children and adults to be creative, and to
raise awareness of how everyday materials can be reused.
Cabinet member for visible and building services Cllr Geoff Cox
said: “We’ve asked our local schools to reuse materials like paper
and plastic to make giant sunflowers. It’s a fun project to promote
a serious message. We throw too much away.
"This is one of the more unusual ways we promote our ‘What’s in
your bin?’ campaign that aims to get us all thinking about reducing
or, as in this case, reusing, and recycling.”
Pupils were encouraged to reinforce the project’s green message
by using the petals of the sunflowers to write special promises of
how they’re going to reduce, reuse and recycle in their daily
lives.
Cabinet member for tourism and leisure Cllr Anthony Ernest said:
"This project has enabled our local children to use their
imagination and creative skills. Their unusual and eye-catching
creations bring the outdoor environment indoors at Art Central this
summer. Please come and see their work.”
The sunflowers will be on display at Art Central until Thursday,
21 August. Gallery opening times are 11am until 4pm (Tuesday to
Saturday).
Pictured: Cadoxton Nursery School kept their
flower in great condition for the exhibition.
28/07/2008