Well over 300 people queued to gain entry to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall to view John Dyer’s Tall Ships exhibition and to meet the artist. The paintings on display were the result of his prestigious residency for the Falmouth to London Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta 2014.
As part of his residency John Dyer inspired thousands of children across the world to create their own paintings and pieces of creative writing as part of the BIG Art & Storytelling Tall Ships Project. Over 25 of the top winning children and their families attended the event with one family even changing their flights to get back to the UK for the special event.
The Mayor of Falmouth John Body and Henrietta Boex the director of Falmouth Art Gallery, introduced the winners.
"When we embarked on the project we had a vision, a strong image of bringing creativity into the lives of children across the UK, the magic of combining visual art with the written word and the belief that children will create outstanding work if given the right space, materials and inspiration. Our dream has come true, and we have delivered face-to-face workshops to over 1,200 children and are proud to have 1,260 pieces of their amazing artwork and writing on display on the John Dyer Gallery website.”
"The quality is fantastic, the top 200 entries are a joy, and the winning children's work is deserving of being hung in the public Falmouth Art Gallery too. I am proud to have been part of this magical project and know it will have a lasting legacy for all.” John Dyer 2014
All of the winning entries along with hundreds of the best pieces of children work and the work of John Dyer have been published in a new book to celebrate the event.
John’s work and the contributions of time and resources from Falmouth Art Gallery, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and Kids in Museums, has been match-funded by the Arts Council and the £15,000 grant allowed actors, writers and poets to entertain and create for the Tall Ships Regatta.
John Frankland, the creative producer of the BIG Art and Storytelling Tall Ships Project, took the best of the children's writing and had it performed by Shop for Theatre at the exhibition event, as well as during the regatta in Falmouth in shops , the docks and other locations.
The top 200 art entries from children went on exhibition not only at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall but also at the Heritage Centre in Greenwich and in the Gyllyngdune Gardens in Falmouth.
Jacqui Owen the visitor and education officer at the Gyllyngdune Gardens said: "We are delighted to support this fantastic project and give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the incredible talent of children inspired by John Dyer's official painting for the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta 2014.
