Culture, Poole | Posted on September 25th, 2024 | return to news
Stunning new mural unveiled at Towngate Bridge in Poole
Poole BID has commissioned a new mural by south coast-based artist Kizzi Bennett to add to the town’s collection of mural art.
Poole Business Improvement District (BID) has unveiled another addition to Poole’s growing collection of mural artworks.
The latest murals painted onto Towngate Bridge by Poole train station were created by Kizzi Bennett of Kizzibcreative. The murals depict local wildlife including seabirds and red squirrels, which live on nearby Brownsea Island, and were made using recycled materials.
Kizzi said: “My latest mural on Towngate Bridge is inspired by the majestic gannets that grace Dorset’s coastline. Often misunderstood and unfairly labelled as ‘greedy,’ gannets are, in fact, one of the most graceful and romantic seabirds, renowned for their beauty in flight and their tender, gift-giving courtship rituals. These birds are not only striking with their brilliant white feathers and soft yellow heads, but they also play a vital role in the coastal ecosystem. By honouring them through art, I hope to challenge their negative perception and remind us of the importance of celebrating and protecting these incredible seabirds.”
Red squirrels are a native species to the UK but they have been replaced by grey squirrels throughout most of the country. Red squirrels now only thrive in a handful of places such as parts of Scotland and Brownsea Island.
Kizzi added: “I created a tribute to one of the UK’s most iconic and endangered species. Red squirrels play a crucial role in regenerating our pine woodlands, and with their numbers dwindling due to habitat loss and the spread of grey squirrels, it’s more important than ever to protect them.
“For me, this artwork is a reminder of the beauty and fragility of our natural world, and a call to honour and safeguard the wildlife that makes it so special.”
The murals were commissioned by Poole BID, with matched funding from The Dolphin Poole, Legal & General, and BCP Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy. The murals are intended to enhance Poole’s visual appeal through public art.
Jacqui Rock, Poole BID lead said: “We strongly believe that the addition of murals enhances the overall experience for Poole Town as a destination for residents and visitors alike, and public art like this fosters a sense of pride in the local community while also supporting the town’s cultural and artistic identity.
“It is important to us that any public art we commission adheres to Poole and its heritage and so seeing the final results of a year-long project which guided Kizzi to produce our latest creative artwork for the town is wonderful to see.”
John Grinnell, centre manager of The Dolphin Poole, said, “We’re really pleased with how the murals have turned out. Kizzi’s artwork has helped enhance the appearance of an area that we’ve long felt has needed some TLC.
“This joint initiative between The Dolphin and Poole BID fits in well with our wider plan to transform The Dolphin into a welcoming place for the local community. Our previous
initiatives have had a similar focus, seeing the opening of Kingland, FOUNDRY Poole, GATHER, and most recently, The Dolphin Street Food.”
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