“We design lots of the Sainsbury Centre’s print and are delighted to be sponsoring the Centre’s elephant. Agreement was quickly reached that linking the elephant to the Constructed exhibition was a good idea. When people see the exhibition, the Sainsbury Centre’s Rietveld chair will look strangely familiar! Things quickly developed – as two design-led organisations we wanted to do something a bit different and fun – hence the unique construction of this elephant” - Andrew Johnson, East Publishing.
Constructed is the most extensive exhibition of the UEA Collection of Abstract and Constructivist Art, Architecture and Design since it was founded in 1968. Begun with a grant from the University of East Anglia, the collection was a response to the modernity of the new university campus, designed by Denys Lasdun. The exhibition features sculpture, painting, graphics and design, together with architectural models, stage sets and furniture. Works by David Bomberg, Marcel Breuer, Sonia Delaunay, Charles Eames and Le Corbusier will be among those on display.
During the period of Go Elephants! there will be other elephant celebrations at the Sainsbury Centre. On Sunday 3 August the Family Fun Day, Carnival of the Animals (sponsored by the Evening News), has been themed to link in to the elephant art project and to large animals in the Centre’s Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection. There will be creative activities, live performances, chance to enjoy the BBQ or bring a picnic and time to explore Sainsbury Centre inside and out – and it’s all free! Other elephant fun at the Centre will include a special gallery trail which be launched to coincide with Go Elephants! and an art competition for children. Check the Sainsbury Centre’s website for up-to-date news –
www.scva.ac.uk.
“We are delighted to be participating in Go Elephants! which is a fun way to engage people with art and will also raise lots of money for charity. The elephant design is perfect for us, East Publishing have done a great job. We are also very pleased to be working with modelmaker Nigel Purdy. We hope that our elephant will encourage people to visit the Constructed exhibition and see the Rietveld chair that inspired the Parallelephant and, of course, see the many animals in the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection” - Kate Carreno, Deputy Director, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.
Shoppers leaving Chapelfield via St Stephen’s churchyard during the Go Elephant! event should also look out for the Educated Elephant (created by local artist Illona Clark in paint and collage) which represents the University of East Anglia as a whole. Branches of knowledge studied and researched at the University are represented on the leaves of the elephantine tree of knowledge, along with aspects of the campus, built and natural. Look closely for some nice surprises!