Independent timber and builders' merchant Ridgeons has offered its support as the official logistics partner for the fantastic GoGoGorillas! Art project that will be taking Norwich by storm this summer.
Organised by Wild in Art, and local charity Break, GoGoGorillas! is a glorious parade of gorilla sculptures, which are decorated in a variety of colourful and exciting artwork created by professional artists, schools and community groups. These will be located among the streets of Norwich for 10 weeks during the summer of 2013.
Ridgeons’ area general manager Rocklands, Mike Fields, commented: “We are thrilled to be logistics partner and lending our support to such a worthy cause. As well as sponsoring our very own gorilla, we were keen to go that step further and what better way to lend a hand than by using our fleet of Ridgeons’ trucks, which can be regularly spotted around Norwich, to deliver each gorilla sculpture to its temporary home for the beginning of the parade.”
GoGoGorillas! project manager, Martin Green, added: “Break is delighted that Ridgeons have come onboard to support The GoGoGorillas! trail which will take place for ten weeks during the summer of 2013 and will encourage thousands of people to discover and re-discover the fine city of Norwich.”
“The event itself is about raising money for charity, inspiring visitors, highlighting environmental issues and showcasing the plight of one of the world’s most endangered species. The gorillas will be a magnificent sight and showcase Norwich as a city of creativity and culture.”
Ridgeons will be responsible for transporting each of the 50, 30kg gorillas into position for installation prior to the launch of the parade. A number of employees from across three of Ridgeons’ branches have kindly donated their time to lend a hand in ensuring the gorillas are in place for their debut. These include Dave Coates, Brian Minns, Michael Hillier and Martin Codling from the Attleborough branch, David Hastings and David Harmer from the Norwich branch and Rob Green from the Diss branch.
At the end of the event, Ridgeons will transport the gorillas to RG Carters, for safekeeping, and then on to the Forum ready for a charity gorilla auction on Thursday 3 October 2013.
In addition to lending its transport support, Ridgeons has also sponsored Horatio - one of the gorilla sculptures – whose make-over was undertaken courtesy of artist Phil Daniels. Phil is an internationally-acclaimed artist whose collections have featured in galleries and displays across the globe.
Delivered by leading arts and education company Wild in Art and local charity Break, the event will be building on the success of the Go Elephants parade in 2008. Residents and visitors will be able to follow the trail around Norwich’s streets, parks and open spaces.
Each GoGoGorilla! sculpture, sponsored by a local business, will be auctioned at the end of the parade with the aim of raising significant funds for Break and the Born Free Foundation, the chosen charities for 2013.
