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Be Dazzled! - The show moves on

On Friday 13th July extramuros 'art outside the walls' the exhibition took to the road, leaving Ellesmere for its partner towns in Spain and Portugal. Three of the pieces- Ellesmere Pillar, Ellesmere Chronical and Bindweed will return to take up their permanent home in Ellesmere next year.

extramuros 'art outside the walls' is part of the exciting International Art Project - Extramuros 2007.The Ellesmere element, commissioned by The Qube comprises twelve sculptures from Spain, Portugal and the UK placed around The Mere. The artwork arrived around 21st March 2007 and will remain in Ellesmere until mid June.

This dynamic exhibition is exciting comment far and wide. It has featured in local and regional press and on BBC Midlands TV. Comment in Ellesmere has been mixed as local people come to terms with the 'shock of the new'. Many residents however, took a part in the project with contribution to the 'Pillar'

British artists Richard Taylor, Irene Brown and collaborators Chris Stokes and Junko Mori were each commissioned by Qube to create a sculpture to celebrate the extraordinary geological, industrial and cultural heritage of Ellesmere. Along with the other artists in the other countries, they interpreted their local landscapes, history and communities and through the medium of sculpture have helped to facilitate understanding and insight into different lifestyles and experiences.

The European partners are in the rural areas of Andalucia and Asturias in Spain, and Beira Interior in Portugal. After mid June, the work will tour to Southern Spain, then Portugal and in 2008 be finally shown at Cabo Penas in Northern Spain.The three British works will then return to Ellesmere in the spring of 2008 for permanent installation at the Mere.

An action packed launch day on March 28 saw dignitaries from all three countries descend on Ellesmere and began with an exclusive seminar at Ellesmere College titled Commissioning Art and Ideas for the Landscape.