I'm hoping that over the course of the next couple of months, I'll be able to get around most of the trail but my first attempt at rounding up some cattle came during an evening with Emily in the heart of town. Aside from the artistic fun, Birmingham was in mourning for the loss of Ozzy Osbourne with the Black Sabbath frontman having passed away merely days after the band's farewell concert at Villa Park. Victoria Square was already hosting a display of album covers which seems all the more poignant now. Anyway, to the bulls...
We're underway with 'Bosco the Bull' which comprises a nifty monochrome shiny effort in Church Street Square, within sight of the Old Royal pub. Bosco's freehand form is intended to showcase natural shapes and patterns through black and white contrast. Trail maps can be picked up from a variety of city centre locations, with the main Herd HQ being on the Great Western Arcade. There's also a downloadable app so that you can pose with each bull when you find it.
Snow Hill Station beckons for 'Parkers Goals' as positioned on the station's Colmore Row forecourt. This one has blocks of colour as if wearing a sports jersey - quite effective as well - and was produced by Megan Heather Smith-Evans. The goals theme is intended to reflect West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker’s endeavours to create jobs, homes and regional growth by bringing businesses, government and communities together. Whatever your political persuasion, the region does need such investment.
Great Western Arcade often lends itself to the siting of statues and this time around is playing host to 'Bronco Bully'. He's a lot of fun, representing a cowboy design complete with lasso, spurs, pistols and a rodeo hat, all whilst attracting plenty of admiring Good Intent onlookers. The aforementioned Herd HQ meanwhile features 'Astro the Memorabull' in its main shop window; aside from the punning name, this is a thoughtful design because members of the public can arrange for the names of loved ones to be written on in memory of friends and family.
Chamberlain Square is the location of two bull statues, starting with 'Rainbow' with its Brum loveheart. 'Found in Paradise' is then perched below Dishoom; Emily loves its floral theme, incorporating a pale blue acorn leaf head followed by stems and pretty petals along the main flanks. Birmingham’s green spaces are in focus here, with an underlying environmental message echoing previous trail creations.
Over on New Street is a contender for - in my opinion - the best Wild in Art design ever! 'Cadbully' is an all-time classic, themed like a bar of Dairy Milk chocolate (or Dairy Moo, judging by the lettering). Hands down this is my favourite so far - even ahead of Bronco Bully - because of its purple wrapper, textured gold foil effect and general sense of humour. The signature Cadbury’s packaging is captured so perfectly I’m half expecting Emily to try to take a bite out of it!
Talking of my bull-spotting accomplice, we take a break from the arty action by calling into Flight Club for a bash at Social Darts. There are six different games so we work our way through them all over 90 minutes, with Emily proving especially adept at the Demolition and Shangai options - it's not for nothing we rechristen her as Bullseye Bygrave! Despite my best duck-shooting efforts at Quackshot and a nice win at Snakes & Ladders, it is Miss B who takes the overall victory and doesn't she look pleased!
After that, one more sculpture should prove a fitting finale in which case we can bid good evening to 'Bull Brum Lines' outside the Cathedral on the way to Snow Hill. The overall effect utilises a graphic design motif of circles, triangles, crosses, stripes and arrows to appear very impactful. With twelve bulls accounted for in total, that means there are 28 of the big ones still to track down, not to mention some of the smaller ones designed in partnership with local schools. The quest continues...
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