Four new miniature sculptures have been secretly added to Bristol's highly popular Gromit Unleashed 3 trail, providing an exciting bonus for art hunters as the charitable fundraising event reaches its halfway mark. The special Miniature Gromit Unleashed collection has been strategically placed throughout the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and will remain on display throughout the month of August.
These four small treasures represent an exciting expansion to the main 53-statue trail, which has become one of Bristol's most talked-about attractions since its official launch on June 30. The miniature collection serves as an "added bonus" for dedicated statue hunters exploring the city.
Two of the new additions are bronze sculptures created and generously donated by Castle Fine Arts Foundry, featuring the official signatures of Nick Park, the beloved creator of Wallace and Gromit. The first bronze piece depicts Gromit sitting patiently on a bench alongside Wallace, who is wearing the iconic Wrong Trousers made famous in the acclaimed 1993 animated film. This movie served as the second installment in the Wallace and Gromit series, following the original "A Grand Day Out" released in 1989.
The second bronze sculpture features Feathers McGraw, the duo's infamous feathered antagonist, shown controlling one of Wallace's characteristically madcap inventions. This piece captures the memorable villain from the Preston storyline, immortalizing the cunning penguin in bronze.
The third piece in the miniature collection takes a creative artistic approach, reimagining the devious penguin Feathers McGraw as the subject of Johannes Vermeer's world-famous painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring." However, instead of the traditional pearl, this version shows Feathers sporting a dazzling diamond earring. This unique miniature oil painting was skillfully created by artist Giuliana Terran and will be cleverly hidden in plain sight among the gallery's existing artwork collection, challenging visitors to spot it among the museum's permanent displays.
The fourth and final addition to the collection is titled "The Chicken and the Egg," created by artist Tom Astley. This distinctive piece draws inspiration from the world-renowned luxury Fabergé eggs and aims to capture the evil penguin's characteristic sneaky charm in an elegant, decorative format.
While these four miniature sculptures will undoubtedly delight any Wallace and Gromit enthusiast, it's important to note that they do not constitute part of the official trail system. Unlike the main 53 sculptures, these miniatures do not have QR codes attached to them and cannot be registered through the official Gromit Unleashed 3 mobile app.
Nicola Masters, director of The Grand Appeal, expressed enthusiasm about the new additions, stating: "We're so excited for people to discover these brilliant new additions to the trail. Each one is packed with charm and celebrates everything we all know and love about Aardman's iconic characters."
Each miniature artwork has been carefully hidden throughout the museum, seamlessly integrated among the venue's existing permanent collections. Visitors can explore the museum and hunt for these special pieces at no cost, as entry to the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery remains free of charge.
The charitable aspect of the project will continue beyond the trail's conclusion. When the Gromit Unleashed 3 event officially ends, the entire miniature collection will be put up for auction to raise funds for two important healthcare institutions: Bristol Children's Hospital and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Michael's Hospital.
Looking ahead, starting September 13, all of the Gromit sculptures from the main trail will be gathered together in one central location for a special two-week exhibition called "The Greatest Dog Show on Earth" at Cribbs Causeway, giving visitors one final opportunity to see all the sculptures together before the event concludes.
