On the 21st August we welcomed a new visitor to Newcastle Helix. Electric Ellie! She is based outside in Science Square, outside the Urban Sciences Building.
Ellie is part of Elmer’s Great North Parade – a spectacular art trail of more than 50 large individually designed sculptures (that’s will be placed all around the North East) and 115 little sculptures, based on the much-loved children’s character, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. The parade will run from August – November 2019, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region. This trail not only celebrates arts and culture but will raise vital funds for St Oswald’s Hospice.
The Helix sponsored sculpture is designed to reflect two great inventors of the North East, Joseph Swan, who developed the first light bulb and William Armstrong, who developed new more efficient ways to use hydroelectricity. Electric Ellie features imagery which resonates with the site’s history and the fact that it was built on a former coal mine. Reflecting the past, present and future of the site as an exemplar sustainable urban development.
The Elmer trail not only helps raise vital funds for St Oswald’s but at the same time enables the local community to enjoy a free activity with their family leading them to parts of the City they may otherwise not visit.
If you want to find out more about the trail visit https: http://www.stoswaldsuk.org/elmer/
