Students at local primary schools in Patchway. Filton, Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford had their very own book launch in Waterstones, Cribbs Causeway this week.
The book ‘Gathering of the Winds’ was created by artists Matthew Jeanes and Martin Maudsley along with pupils from St Chad’s, Callicroft and Coniston (Patchway); Charborough Road (Filton); Holy Family, Wheatfield and Meadowbrook (Bradley Stoke); and St Michael’s (Stoke Gifford).
The book created as part of the Fusion Festival organised by Patchway Community College and funded by Arts Council England.
The stories were inspired by the Olympic Windsurfing and Sailing events in Portland and Weymouth, with the children inventing “Windy” characters, personifications of the wind, with wonderfully vivid results.
Speaking at the launch, Richard Headon, the Artistic Director for the South West Weymouth Olympic events, said:
“The Gathering of the Winds book was exactly the sort of project we hoped would be created as part of the South West region-wide Cultural Olympiad ‘Battle for the Winds’ celebration of the Olympic sailing at Weymouth and Portland in 2012.”
“Both the artists and the school children involved really embraced the theme of the gathering the winds. Martin and Matt really inspired the children to create some wonderful windy tales illustrated by some fantastic and energetic images. It was great to be able to connect local young people with such a prestigious and international event.”
The event was also attended by Headteachers and Governors of the schools involved, who agreed that they were incredibly proud of the work that had been produced and of being involved in another legacy created from the 2012 Olympics.
Photo: Book launch at the Waterstones store in Cribbs Causeway. L-R: Tom Knights (book designer), Matt Jeanes (illustrator), Geoff Howell (Chair of Governors at Patchway Community College), Martin Maudsley (writer), Sherie Humphries (Creative Agent at Patchway Community College) and Richard Headon (Artistic Director of SW Olympic events for Weymouth).
