Spadge Hopkins Artist
News, Comments and Press Coverage
In The News...
'PAWS-itivity'
Library Labradors - Following a donation of The Green Pan sculpture to Framlingham Library, Spadge Hopkins has become involved with the PAWS-itivity fundraising project for the whole of Suffolk Libraries
He has donated a full-sized Labrador sculpture which will be auctioned for the charity and he will be one of the artists transforming their dog sculptures into public artworks which will be displayed across Suffolk's libraries this summer.
Miro's Mutt - Homage to Joan Miro - https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/about/news/library-labrador-locations-announced
Spadge's Labradors can be seen at :
Broomhill Library - PAWS-itivity Legacy Sculpture by Spadge Hopkins ;
Ixworth Library - Ralph: Black Labrador by Spadge Hopkins ;
Newmarket Library - Miro's Mutt by Spadge Hopkins
First Shows of 2023
ScottishPower Foundation helps Museum of East Anglian Life create new outdoor art trail....
Eight exciting environmental artists are coming together to help the nation engage with nature – thanks to the ScottishPower Foundation.
Selected by the Museum of East Anglian Life, soon to rebrand as the Food Museum, to create natural art installations that champion sustainability, the artists will create a riverside sculpture trail as part of the museum’s ‘River for All’ project.
The Museum of East Anglian Life is rebranding as the Food Museum and as one of its first projects, the Foundation-funded ‘River for All’ will create the sculpture trail and accessible pathways along the museum’s riverwalk to give visitors the opportunity to experience nature.
The dramatic art installations will include a dragonfly sculpture made from natural materials, a giant 3D spider’s web and a sculpture made from drinks cans dropped in the museum’s recycling bins. All eight installations will explore the importance of maintaining wildlife habitats in rural communities.
Providing access to previously inaccessible woodland and rivers, the project has been made possible thanks to the ScottishPower Foundation, which supports projects that make a positive impact on people and communities as well as helping the advancement of arts and culture, citizenship, education and environmental protection across the country.
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “This is an exciting project for the Museum of East Anglian Life and an invaluable opportunity to bring together incredibly talented artists to engage local people and visitors and help explore sustainability and the importance of wildlife habitats in rural communities in a really powerful way. The use of such eye-catching artwork to share such an important message was one of the reasons we chose to fund the project and we’re proud it will be one of the museum’s first projects in its new position as the Food Museum. It’s truly inspiring and set to be a great addition to all the museum offers. I look forward to exploring the trail when it launches and seeing the artists’ work for myself.”
Spadge Hopkins has been selected as one of the eight artists to contribute artwork to the Riverwalk. More details...
March 14th 2022 https://www.scottishpower.com/news/pages/scottishpower_foundation_helps_museum_of_east_anglian_life_create_new_outdoor_art_trail.aspx
The Detectorists
Spadge was recently asked to contribute the price of a cup of coffee to the cost of replacing the popular St Michael’s Rooms community facility in Framlingham. As it was used in BBC’S Detectorists t.v. Show he obliged a little further by donating a Copper Sutton Hoo helmet sculpture as an image of it was the badge of the club and then went on to make a metal tool sculpture, a steel cut sculpture and an Intaglio print of the two main characters. The items are listed online with Clarke and Simpson and the auction finishes on 3rd April 2022.
‘As well as exhibiting inside the popular Ferini Gallery at Pakefield, Lowestoft, Spadge recently landed one of his seagulls there and took advantage to fit a Green Pan for a local customer on the same day”
Ferini Gallery & Green Pan get sited!
Comments from two Private Collectors...
"Many thanks once again for being so generous with your time yesterday and bringing such enthusiasm, diligence and patience to the process of helping us to decide the ideal locations for your sculptures. We hope that you and your equipment are recovered from the wet conditions. We are delighted with your craftsmanship and the care you took with installing the sculptures for us - much appreciated. We look forward to enjoying them from the countless perspectives presented by changes in the weather and the seasons."
Simon and Alexandra, Woodbridge.
Spadge Hopkins, seen here in his studio, was part of the 2021 Suffolk Open Studios event.
Hello
With Suffolk Wildlife Trust celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, this issue brings news from Foxburrow Farm. Charlie Zakss from the Wildlife Trust shares snippets of the farm's history and the team's passion for bringing modern agriculture and wildlife together to thrive.
On the subject of wildlife, anyone who's spotted the fabulous cormorant sculptures along the river will be interested to read about the artist's inispirtion for the pieces. Here Spadge Hopkins tells his story and future plans.
Still keeping with the environment, our third story this week comes from East Suffolk Council. Whilst we've all embraced recycling, there's still potential for confusion which causes contamination. Read here about the Council's campaign to help ensure everything put out for recycling makes the grade.
The start of next week is pretty special as Monday 21st is Suffolk Day. With limited events planned this year, we share what the Lord Lieutenant has to say about our wonderful county.
And finally, you may have seen that theplace2be now has it's very own what's on calendar. If you are planning an event you'd like to promote, please send details and a photograph to hello@theplace2be.co.uk and we'll happily spread the word.
Happy reading and best wishes
Lyn
Artist Spadge Hopkins creates trail of cormorant sculptures along River Deben in Woodbridge
By Rhoda Morrison-
rhoda.morrison@iliffepublishing.co.uk
Published: 05:00, 30 November 2020
A Suffolk artist has created a new sculpture trail in Woodbridge which he hopes will encourage people to get out and about in the town.
For the last few months, Spadge Hopkins has been working to make lifesize sculptures of the cormorant waterbird which he has installed at various points along the River Deben.
He was inspired to make the sculptures, which are created by scanning in hand drawings which are then laser cut in steel, after he held an exhibition in the town's The Longshed by the river.
Spadge Hopkins has created a trail of steel cormorant sculptures along the waterside in Woodbridge. (43324767)
"I loved seeing the cormorant sitting on a post in the Deben and a fellow artist suggested I create one," said Spadge, who lives in Framlingham.
"I liked the idea but I wanted to do something for the public so I came up with the idea of an unofficial trail of lifesize cormorants along the Deben which is an area I love."
Seven cormorants have been installed on the riverside so far, at the Deben Yacht Club, Woodbridge Boatyard, Art Safari at the Harbourmaster's office and on three private boats.
Spadge has also confirmed four more sites along the waterside where the steel birds will appear.
"I hope people appreciate how they change with the light," he said.
"The black birds often shine in reality because they are wet and I've tried to capture that as well as the wonderful shapes when they are in silhouette."
And Spadge hopes that they will provide some entertainment for families out on walks as well as encourage them to visit and support businesses along the river.
Seven birds have been installed so far, with four more sites having been confirmed.
Seven birds have been installed so far, with four more sites having been confirmed.
"I hope people will enjoy spotting them; I love the birds and the river," he said
Reproduced by Kind Permission of The Suffolk Free Press
Artworks can be purchased from the artist. Please contact Spadge directly if you wish to make an enquiry.
Sculptures are all available as indoor or outdoor sculptures.
The indoor sculptures can be scaled up and surface treated to allow them to live outdoors.
Many of Spadge’s pieces are unique. Several of his copper sculptures have been hand made in a limited batch of 5. The process of laser cutting which is all done by Spadge himself except for the actual machine work, lends itself to mass-production. However, all Spadge’s designs are limited to a run of 10, no matter what size. They are now marked as ev (edition Variee) */10 as well as being signed.
