Do you know what Londoners love? Art. After all, our capital is absolutely filled to the brim with museums and galleries and world-class exhibitions. But, do you know what we like even more than art? Free art! What’s better, after all than seeing incredible pieces of artistic history for free? Well – how about adorable and inclusive free art?! Well, that’s exactly what awaits visitors to Canary Wharf with the arrival of the new Paws on the Wharf art trail of guide dog sculptures.
The Canary Wharf Group has partnered up with Guide Dogs on a free new installation of 25 guide dog sculptures. Scattered around the Canary Wharf estate, each sculpture has been designed by a different artist. And they’ll be sitting pretty (stayyyy) until May 17, meaning it’s your last chance to see it in the capital now! Sounds like the perfect activity to keep the young’uns entertained this weekend!
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Photo Credit: Matt Crossick/PA wire.[/caption] Where to find the guide dog sculptures
Sixteen of the sculptures have been scattered around Canary Wharf, while nine have been placed throughout the Tower Hamlets borough. And, given the inclusive ethos behind the trail, it’s one of London’s most accessible art trails.
The entire trail is step-free, with multiple map options available. Visitors can also use features like the NaviLens App and NaviLens Codes. Using this “cutting-edge technology… enable[s] people with sight loss to visit the trail independently”. There will also be sighted guide tours available for those who would appreciate support while they navigate the trail.
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Photo Credit: Matt Crossick/PA wire.[/caption] You can find a trail map and more details on the public exhibition [trackLink link_url="https://canarywharf.com/whats-on/paws-on-the-wharf/"]here.
Depending on when you visit, you may even encounter some guide dogs checking out the sculptures for themselves!
The designs
The trail of sculptures hopes to “raise awareness of sight loss and celebrate the extraordinary bond between guide dogs and their owners.” Often, it’s not until people are confronted by visual reminders of the differences between us all, that they remember to consider how they can be inclusive and thoughtful in their everyday lives.
The designs range from vibrantly colourful decorations to those intended to provoke thought and introspection in the viewer. Five of the guide dog sculptures feature artwork exclusively made for the trail by artists with sight loss. These come from the artists Angela Charles, Alex Devlin, Kevin Gavaghan, Sian Healey, and Clarke Reynolds.
An initiative with Tower Hamlets schools also saw one design selected from a pool of student-led design suggestions as part of a competition. The winning school, Ben Jonson Primary School, will have their design brought to life by “experienced trail artist Jill Busby and [it will] feature on the main trail.”
At the end of the public showcase, the sculptures will be auctioned off. Proceeds will contribute to “Guide Dogs’ ongoing efforts to provide essential services and support to individuals with sight loss”.
Said Deborah Bourne, Director of Fundraising for Guide Dogs:
We’re so excited to be bringing our accessible art trail to Canary Wharf. Paws on the Wharf is a first for Guide Dogs and will be an artistic event that everyone can enjoy – truly inclusive and a shared experience for all.
The Paws on The Wharf art trail will be visible around Canary Wharf and Tower Hamlets until next week (May 17). Find out more about the guide dog sculptures art trail and accompanying events here.