Artistic streak of Portsmouth shown through creative images of Southsea dinosaur Luna Park

One thing we have learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of arts and culture for our health and wellbeing, and the need, that so many of us have to express our creativity. This week, I’m focusing on Portsmouth’s wonderful artistic streak, and the way in which Luna Park became the City’s muse 10 years ago.

Holly Parfoot told us about her work: ‘I was an art student at the University of Chichester in 2010 and over the summer I worked on some photo collages whilst trying to decide what I wanted to do the following year.’ Edwin Amey said of his cheeky image: ‘After reading the report in The News, I felt the need to register this unfortunate happening!’

This city is incredibly photogenic, and full of amazingly talented photographers so it’s little wonder that we have such stunning examples of the Ultrasaurus on Southsea Common. These three images by Victoria Amber/Sjӧstrӧm-Jones, Mike Cooter and Claire Sambrook were all included in a calendar, FOTOsaurus: Public responses to a temporary landmark Aspex produced for 2011.

As it happens the dates in the calendar match up in 2022, so we’ve made it one of our Crowdfunder rewards - please visit crowdfunder.co.uk/southsea-dinosaur and donate if you want to snap one up!

Your support will help us to create a scale replica of the dinosaur in bronze, to be placed on a stone plinth with a QR code linking it to an augmented reality version of the work (you will see it through your mobile device as if it was there full size)! It will also give viewers access to a digital archive of images and memories of the work.

SEE ALSO: Southsea Common Luna Park dinosaur 10-year anniversary to be marked with virtual reality and celebration events

We’ve just secured the backing of Portsmouth City Council but we’ve still got a long way to go. Please donate what you can and share our Crowdfunder with your family and friends to help us commission a public sculpture which marks an extraordinary chapter in the history of Portsmouth; a lasting tribute to our long gone and much missed visitor.

You can also get involved by sharing your pictures. Please send them to [email protected] and you might find them included in Heather & Ivan Morison’s digital work Luna Park 10 Years. Visit lunapark.land to see the virtual reality experience of the Ultrasaurus back on Southsea Common, and on the website you can chat with Luna to share your thoughts about the past and future. Or call the Dino Hotline to share your story: we have a dedicated phone line where you can leave a message. Just call 07488 266872 and Luna will answer!

Next week in my final column to celebrate Luna Park 10 Years I’ll be looking at how it all ended, the fire and the amazing public response.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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