St Luke's Hospice Plymouth
Why elephants are going to appear all over Plymouth
St Luke's is bringing Elmer the patchwork elephant to the city for Elmer's Big Parade in 2019
Sarah WaddingtonHead of content
Bright and colourful elephants are set to appear in a trail across the city to get people talking about death.
St Luke's Hospice Plymouth is bringing Elmer the patchwork elephant – the much-loved storybook character created by Devon-born author and artist David McKee – to Plymouth for Elmer's Big Parade in 2019, 30 years since Andersen Press first published the Elmer story.
The charity hopes the fun and enchanting trail will not just add a splash of colour across Plymouth, but also encourage people to start talking about the more sensitive subjects, like death and dying.
Working with children's books publisher Andersen Press and creator of public art events Wild in Art, for ten weeks over summer 2019, the eye-catching Elmer's Big Parade will see elephants dotted across the city, where St Luke's cares for patients with progressive life-limiting illnesses and supports their families and carers.
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The 40 unique elephant sculptures, each painted by an established or emerging local artist, will form a trail that will both attract new visitors to Plymouth, curious to see what Elmer is up to, and encourage residents to explore areas they might not have ventured to before.
St Luke's chief executive Steve Statham said the trail will not only bring those difficult discussions forward, but also raise vital funds for the charity.
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Plymouth artist Brian Pollard has painted the first elephant (Image: Sarah Waddington)
"An elephant never forgets and that's a key message for us, too," he said. "We want to help people create lasting memories and at St Luke's we are very proud that we can do this for many patients and their families.
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"We're really excited about Elmer's Big Parade. As well as being full of fun that will spread a big grin across Plymouth and the wider area, it will encourage meaningful discussion about death, dying and bereavement, subjects we often shy away from but would all benefit from being more open about.
"In addition to being a great free and healthy day out for all the family as they walk the trail, it will also attract new visitors to our city, raising Plymouth's profile and bringing economic benefits, as well as showcasing a wealth of local artistic talent."
The sculptures will help people 'navigate' the city while increasing awareness of St Luke's, de-mystifying death, dying and hospice care, and raising vital funds to help the charity look after more patients who need its compassionate care.
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St Luke's chief executive wants to open up the discussion around death (Image: Sarah Waddington)
The project also includes an interactive app to help people follow the herd, detailing the sculpture locations and enabling them to join the Elmer community by uploading selfies as they go.
Running alongside the trail will be an engaging interactive educational programme for Key Stage 2 and 3 school children that will aid their understanding of death and dying in an age-appropriate way.
Following the launch on Wednesday evening, artists are being invited to submit their designs from June 2018, with the sculpture trail opening in July 2019.
Charlie Langhorne, director at Wild in Art, said: "By joining forces with Andersen Press and creating a blank 3D canvas inspired by the famous patchwork elephant, we just know that this big parade will have a positive impact on Plymouth's residents and visitors, and of course St Luke's.
"With similar parades featuring Elmer in Ipswich and Tyne and Wear too, we're excited to be turning the country patchwork for fantastic causes in 2019."
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Elmers will be dotted across Plymouth in an exciting trail (Image: KHOTILOVSKI)
Paul Black, PR director at Andersen Press, added: "We are delighted to be working with St Luke's and Wild in Art on this project, and cannot wait to see the colourful Elmers around Plymouth – to bring this amazing trail to Plymouth, a place so close to the heart of David McKee, Elmer's creator, is really the icing on the cake.
"Here's hoping we raise lots of money for St Luke's Hospice, whilst making a fun, inclusive and interactive trail for the public."
St Luke's is offering local businesses and other organisations the opportunity to sponsor one of the 40 unique Elmer sculptures that are set to enchant and inspire. Ultimately, these sculptures will be auctioned off to raise money for St Luke's, ensuring a fitting legacy for the people and communities of Plymouth and the surrounding areas which benefit from the charity's care.