Norwich Dragon festival

Norwich Dragon Festival 2009

Norwich will roar into life as the first ever dragon festival takes place at various venues around the city. The festival aims to reflect dragons as an integral part of Norwich's local history.

Better get your flame-retardant clothing ready, as the first ever Norwich Dragon Festival flies its way into the city between Saturday, 31 January - Sunday, 22 February, 2009.

The festival entails three weeks of flame-filled activities including exhibitions, puppet shows, story-telling, talks, films, arts and crafts and a dragon trail.

The aim of the festival is to celebrate dragons as part of Norwich's vast culture and history, with the fiery creatures being a part of the city since the Medieval Ages.

The festival will call at 15 different locations around Norwich, including the £2 million renovated Dragon Hall on King Street, and many venues will exhibit their displays for free.

The Dragon Festival

The fire-breathing creatures have been given the support of many companies throughout Norwich to bring them to the public domain.

"There's over 15 organisations involved from all across the city and about 30 different events," said Christina Lundberg, communications manager at Norwich Heritage, Economic and Regenerations Trust.

"The activities are mainly aimed at families, but there's treats for the young people at heart and talks that are also aimed towards adults," she added.

A dragon in the spandrels at Dragon Hall

One of the main dragons that can be seen at the festival is an incredible 581 years old, placed in the spandrels (rafters) of Dragon Hall.

"We've had groups who've liaised with community artists to work at filling our other spandrels at Dragon Hall, because we only have one dragon there at the moment," said Gina Woods, learning and development officer of Dragon Hall.

"Even though there is only one, it is rather famous, being 581 years old," she added.

Young people have been able to get involved in filling the remaining spandrels of the hall.

"Filling the triangular spandrels has been really fun and creative. We have a felt dragon made by Catton brownies," said Gina.

The history of Norwich's dragons

Ever since the Medieval Ages, Norwich has had a history of dragons.

A Dragon on St John's Cathedral, Norwich

"The dragons are mainly related to St George, the great dragon-slayer, and Margaret, the maiden he rescued," said Christina.

"Dragons have been carved in Norwich since Medieval times and they boomed around the Industrial Revolution, where the creatures were incorporated into the architecture of the buildings.

"Snap dragons were involved in the Annual Guild Day on St George's Day and various dragons can now be found throughout Norwich.

"People in Norwich have really taken dragons to heart".

Now the penguins are coming to Norwich

People are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for a colony of penguins across Norfolk this winter.

We've had elephants in Norwich, hippos are heading for Wymondham, camels visited Brundall last week and next it will be the turn of penguins.

Life-size emperor penguins brought to life with the artwork of poorly and disabled youngsters will be showing off their new looks at The Forum in the new year.

The sculptures, decorated by youngsters from Quidenham Children's Hospice, Sheridan House School in Southborough, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Eagle House in Banham will be displayed from Wednesday, January 28 until Sunday, February 8.

Each group has created their individual animal sculptures by transferring the youngster's images on to the fibreglass
penguins through a series of art workshops.


I am sure that this will make an excellent photo opportunity & I hope to be able to visit the exhibition and take lots of pictures.

Quickie card

I was asked last night to make a card for and 11 year old boy called Ben who is football mad especially Norwich City.
It's sometimes harder to make a card when you don't know the person, this is what I came up with

FRONT


BACK



The letters were cut using my Cricut with the George basics cartridge & the shirt logo was from a price tag on an item in the Norwich City shop ( they were very kind and gave me the ticket when I told them my dilemma.

Join the stampede

A promised I have been out & about with my camera before work to add some of the fabulous elephants to my blog.

This is just 17 out of the 53 lifesize baby elephants that are currently out on the streets of Norwich. When I find more I will add there pictures.

Elephants stampede through Norwich

Norwich has been invaded by 53 life size baby elephants as part of a jumbo arts festival, the elephants have been designed & painted by local artists & school chldren, many have been sponsored by local companies.

You can collect a map at the Forum in Norwich and go on a trail to find all 53 elephants.
They all went into their places overnight and look truly amazing.
Go Elephants



If you are visiting Norwich before the 31st of August then check out this amazing jumbo art trail.
I will add some more photo's tomorrow when I remember to take my camera to work.

Ice sculture trail pictures

Swan at swan Lane
Lobster at lobster lane
Dragon at st Georges hall

Cutie the snowman
Gentleman at Gentlemans walk

Chapel at chapelfield shopping centre

Saint at All saints green

Saint at All saints green


As promised some pictures from the Ice sculpture trail in Norwich

Ice sculpture trail in Norwich

Christmas Ice Sculpture Trail in Norwich

Take a wintry and historic walk through a world of ice through Norwich. A swan, a lion and a dragon will be just some of the striking sculptures carved from ice to form a spectacular wintry trail through Norwich this Christmas.

Memories of the city’s historic past will be illustrated in carved ice forming an amazing journey through a labyrinth of streets from the Norwich Lanes to Westlegate.

The NORWICHRISTMAS ice sculpture trail on Sunday 16 December begins at St Andrew’s Plain on St George’s Street, where you can see Christmas trees being carved from blocks of ice and a forest emerge. From there you will discover the following icy signposts to the city’s history.

The sculptures are all hand carved by artists which makes this the only event of its kind in the country. And this year the trail has a different twist as it takes you on a discovery of unusual place names in the city.


Check back after Sunday & I will post some pictures, I want to make the last of my Christmas cards for friends using the photo's.