SuperDragons are go!
60 beautifully painted and decorated ‘SuperDragons’ are causing quite a stir in Newport, South Wales. As part of the Newport Festival, celebrating the Ryder Cup, the fibreglass SuperDragons have been decorated by renowned artists and local community groups. Many of them sponsored by local companies, they form a dazzling display around the city. Wales’ biggest ever public art event has captured the imagination of residents and visitors alike. The magical project is run by Wild in Art, and the dragons will be auctioned in aid of Born Free and a local charity this October.
Monty meets Superdragon
With just weeks until the start of The Ryder Cup, Europe's Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie made a special visit to Newport today.
Newport is the host city for the 38th Ryder Cup, and Colin Montgomerie visited the museum, library and art gallery on John Frost Square where he read an extract from his favourite children’s book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
After the reading, Colin returned to the foyer area where he came face-to-face with a SuperDragon. He signed the specially created golf themed five foot high fibre glass statue, and it will be auctioned later this year together with the 49 other SuperDragons. The proceeds of the auction will be split between Born Free and a local charity.
The SuperDragons is set to be one of the highlights of the Newport festival (see below) and will see 50 five-foot high fibre glass statues painted and decorated by local artists placed around the city and surrounding area creating a colourful trail for residents and visitors to follow. The SuperDragons trail will last until October 9.
The golf-themed SuperDragon has been specially commissioned to mark Newport being the host city for The 38th Ryder Cup and features the European, USA and Welsh flags.
Newport Superdragons Launch
The Ryder Cup won’t be the only big event on Newport’s calendar this year, as the city prepares to play host to 50 SuperDragons.
On 21 January, Newport’s Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre welcomed VIP guests, celebrities, press, city councillors and the 50 five foot tall dragons, as the plans for the Newport Festival 2010 were launched.
Councillor Matthew Evans said: “2010 will be one of the most exciting years Newport has ever seen. It is a year which promises to unveil a new era for Newport, with a legacy the city and its residents can enjoy for many years to come.”
At the launch, all festival plans were outlined – in addition to hunting down the SuperDragons, residents can look forward to parades, water sports, bands, fairgrounds and aerial artistes who will perform above the suspension bridge.
Undoubtedly one of the main highlights though will be the SuperDragons who will take over Newport in the summer. The statues were gathered at the Riverfront for the launch and businesses are being asked to sponsor their own dragon, which a local artist will paint and decorate. The painted dragons will form a trail across the city. Residents and tourists will be encouraged to follow the trail and visit key places where the dragons are situated. The dragons will be auctioned after the event with proceeds being split between Born Free Foundation and a local charity.
Charlie Langhorne from Wild in Art, the company behind the SuperDragons, commented: “The SuperDragons will create a visual spectacle and is public art with a difference. They will attract visitors and inspire residents to become tourists in their own city.”
To find out more visit about the event, or to learn how to sponsor your own dragon, visit www.newportsuperdragons.co.uk
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