Archived press release

"Galleries" on the buses for FOE's 25th

3 April 1996

The Poet Laureate, Ted Hughes, and the country's leading illustrators are on the roll-call of major artists contributing to "Art On The Buses" - a high profile celebration in honour of 25th Anniversary of Friends of the Earth in May. In a dual initiative with Friends of the Earth - Open Window Gallery and big wide words are bringing home an environmental message to a an audience of millions who will travel on the chosen routes over duration of the exhibition' [1].

Peter Blake is among leading artists very likely to be contributing [2] to a series of unique art pieces on selected bus routes[3] in London on the theme of "Going Places". Among the other contributors confirmed are the leading illustrators Andrzej Klimowski, Jake Tilson and Lawrence Zeegen. The project is being co-ordinated by Friends of the Earth and the Open Window Gallery.

John Hegley, Wendy Cope, Ivor Cutler, Sophie Hannah and Benjamin Zephaniah are among the poets joining Ted Hughes who'll have poems displayed on the buses on the theme of celebrating the beauty of the natural world. This project is co-ordinated by Friends of the Earth and big wide words.

The poems and the art pieces will go on display on the buses on May 19th and a launch event is planned for that time.

Alex M. of big wide words said: "I'm chuffed to be able to support Friends of the Earth and celebrate their 25th by putting poetry in motion. This is a significant event."

Andy Contagious of the Open Window Gallery said;

"People will see art in a situation where they wouldn't normally expect to find it - it's going to be great fun for everyone concerned."ENDS [more......]

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The 73 and 38 bus routes carry an estimated 3 million passenger journeys a month. The pictures on the buses run for 2 months, the poems for 6. The latter will be seen by an estimated audience of 9 million.

[2] We are awaiting final confirmation on Peter Blake's contribution.

[3] The chosen routes are the 73 and the 38 which run through central London.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust