A Regal Bert

Has Bert Royal blood?  © Burges Salmon

Torch-bearing Bert

A view of the Atrium  © Burges Salmon

A view of a Champion  © Burges Salmon

A view of a bit of sunny Bristol  © Burges Salmon

Considering calorie-consumption for a Champion  © Burges Salmon

Bert has been running around the building at Burges Salmon with his Olympic torch.  A sight to be seen, no doubt - so much so that the staff have been having their pictures taken with him.

Map of Gorilla Locations

Download a map of where the full-size Wow! Gorillas are to be found.
Even better are the maps that can be picked up from Bristol Libraries, and other places, as they also give the names, sponsors and artists of the apes.  Apparently the locations of the mini apes decorated by schools will appear on the Bristol Zoo website eventually.

Guide books, presumably featuring photos of all the Wow! Gorillas, comments and possibly profiles of the artists are available (hopefully by now) from Bristol Zoo and the Tourist Information Office, for £2.95.

LOADSA pix of Gorillas on the streets

The public have posted LOADS of pictures on the Wow! Gorillas Facebook page of all the big Gorillas (probably) except Anthony Hitchcock's Guerrilla Tourist, which is in Birmingham Coach Station encouraging people to change their travel plans and come to Bristol, as well as lots of the 101 little apes decorated by Bristol schoolchildren.

Anthony's Hubert outside the Holiday Inn City Centre, Bond Street, has been much admired though.  He used to be known as Joe, when I knew him,

There are a couple of pictures of Bert on the 'Wall'.

YouTube film of Gorilla Flotilla

Bristol Zoo has posted a film of the Gorilla Flotilla on YouTube

Bitton Station - new home to Bert

Contrary to earlier posts, my gorilla Bert is not to be seen outside Bristol Zoo, but at Bitton Station.
Bitton Station is part of The Avon Valley Railway.  Volunteers have restored this bit of the Midland Railway Line, and run steam trains from there throughout the summer.  See the timetable here.

Bitton Station is also on the Bristol - Bath Cyclepath, a 13 mile off-road route for walkers and cyclists between the two cities.  There is a picnic area, pub, river and horse-riding route in the area.  The nearby Willsbridge Mill is part of a Avon Wildlife Trust reserve, with an education centre.  See all the things happening and available in the area here.

Noah (currently outside Bristol Zoo)

Meanwhile, another gorilla sponsored by Mama Bear's Day Nursery, which went on the gorilla flotilla, is the gorilla greeting visitors to Bristol Zoo.  It represents animals in pairs, and is called Noah.

Bristol Zoo WOW! Gorillas submissions

Bristol Zoo Gardens, UK, is 175 years old this year.  To commemorate this birthday, and to raise awareness of the gorilla conservation work in Cameroon being supported by the zoo, they have planned amongst other things a public art event.  For this they have collaborated with Wild in Art who have form in bringing art, wildlife and cities together!

There will be about 50 gorillas on the streets of Bristol this summer; well, painted sculptures of gorillas.  The artists have been sponsored by companies that have connections with Bristol.  In September, the gorillas will be auctioned in aid of two charities. Ape Action Africa works for the conservation of gorillas and other primates, and the Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal raising money for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.  Bristol is the home of Aardman - makers of the Wallace & Gromit animation films.

I submitted two designs, and had one selected. 

Endangered PJs

Yet another case of Gorilla Gardening

My design Endangered PJs has been generously sponsored by Mama Bear's Day Nursery who provide childcare locally.  Thanks to them.

I'm now painting it...