Working in partnership with Swansea County Council’s Education Department, Locws International has delivered a colourful and eye-catching public art installation located on Swansea Beach near the 360 Beach and Watersports Centre and Cafe on Oystermouth Road.
To create the public art work, Locws International worked with 8 schools throughout the city on a creative project based on the Visit Wales Year of Legends theme. Starting with a tour of Oystermouth Castle, with the castle’s Community Officer, Erika Kluge and Locws International’s Artist in Residence, Dave Marchant, schools were given the opportunity to learn about the heritage and history of the castle and imagine the castle’s inhabitants, visitors and goings on through the ages.
Dave Marchant then returned to schools to work with learners to explore Welsh and Swansea based myths and legends such as the Mabinogion, the White Lady and Beddgelert. Learners were then encouraged to translate their learning in to creative representations with support and guidance from the artist in residence.
Arts Outreach Coordinator for Locws International said of the project, “Art Across the City this year is about giving opportunities to children across Swansea to become the commissioned artists and create public artworks. We were completely astounded by the quality of the art works submitted by the schools. Limited to choosing only 5 designs from each of the schools, we only wish we could have extended the project to include more works as there were so many incredible options to choose from. We really hope that the artwork will bring a smile to people’s faces, colour to the beach and it will add to the tourist offering of the region. Another public art installation created by school children is sited at Morriston Hospital.”
The public art installation has been created by learners from Pentre’r Graig, Penyrheol, Plasmarl, Tre Uchaf and Whitestone Primary Schools and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Login Fach, Pen-y-Bryn and Pontybrenin and will be in place until Sunday August 13th.
