Art / Emerson Green Town Council
Folly art finds new home
Panels from an art installation that was installed in the former Mangotsfield Railway Station in 2022, will be getting a new lease of life in a new location.
The piece created by local artist Lucas Antics was part of a ambitious project to transform the disused station on the Bristol & Bath Railway Path into a moving creative canvas until April 2023.
Efforts of Paul Kearsley at Emerson Green Town Council, who originally funded the artistic programme along with the Arts Council, has now found it a long-term home at Barley Close Primary School.
The artwork by Lucas Antics sought to highlight the biodiversity and uniqueness of the area
In an inspiring act of community resilience and artistic preservation, the school has welcomed the panels, ensuring that the vibrant characters and storytelling of the original artwork continue to engage and inspire young minds.
To celebrate this new chapter, Lucas Antics will be hosting an interactive engagement day with the pupils on Friday.
The event will provide children with the opportunity to learn about the creative process behind the artwork and participate in hands-on activities.
Adding to the excitement, local art subscription company ScrawlrBox has generously donated prizes for a school-wide colouring competition.
The folly is constructed from materials mined from other decommissioned buildings, in turn it will be deconstructed and reused once the event has finished
Using specially designed Lucas Antics colouring sheets featuring characters from the original Folly’s Year installation, students will have the chance to express their own artistic interpretations and win exciting art supplies.
A spokesperson for Artel31, the architects behinds the folly said: “Knowing that part of the artwork will live on in a space filled with young creative minds is truly uplifting.
“Art has the power to connect communities, and we’re thrilled to work with the school to continue sharing the joy and imagination that Folly’s Year was all about.”
This initiative not only preserves a piece of Bristol’s artistic heritage but also reinforces the power of art in fostering creativity, learning, and community spirit.
All photos: Artel31
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