AVENUE OF CHAMPIONS SCULPTURE EXHIBITION CELEBRATING LONDON 2012 NOW OPEN IN SALISBURY CATHEDRAL CLOISTERS

Ben Dearnley’s Avenue of Champions exhibition of sculptures which focus on the ‘power zones’ of some of the UK’s past and current Olympic and Paralympic champions is now installed in the west cloister at Salisbury Cathedral. Created in the timeless materials of bronze and marble and displayed on plinths, visitors may walk through the ‘Avenue’ viewing each of the thirteen sculpted athletes as they go.

Gallery of photographs here.

And click here to see pictures and video clips of Michael Johnson with the olympic torch at Salisbury Cathedral at the start of Day 55 of the torch relay.

Canon Treasurer Mark Bonney, chairman of the Cathedral’s Exhibitions Committee, said “The decision to host this collection of work at Salisbury Cathedral throughout the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics is of course inspired by London 2012 and is the Cathedral’s celebration of this great national moment. It is also a celebration of the transformative power of sport as well as human beings’ ability to make the most of the bodies and talents they are given. Ben Dearnley also has an extra special connection with the Cathedral as he was born in The Close during the time his late father, Christopher Dearnley, was Director of Music here.”

Dearnley describes the exhibition saying: “My work here is an exploration into the world of some of the UK’s top Olympic and Paralympics athletes. I wanted to create a series of sculptures which honour and celebrate their achievements and reflect their individual commitment and excellence within their sport. The sculptures hold something of the power zone of each individual athlete, which I see as pivotal to them being the best in the world at what they do. As such each work is a collaboration between athlete and sculptor, understanding their body's action and capturing the 'moment' in a fragmented form.”

The exhibition is curated by Jacquiline Creswell, the cathedral's Visual Arts Advisor.

The Cathedral welcomes visitors every day from 9am to 5pm. If visiting on a Sunday, recommended viewing times are 12.00noon –4.00pm (services are held at 8.00am, 9.15am, 10.30am and 4.30pm).

Where to see them
The 13 sculptures are all located in the west cloister apart from the London 2012 concept torso which is outside the west front of the Cathedral.

The sculptures
London 2012 concept torso Bronze
Adam male Olympic concept torso Bronze
Louis Smith, Olympic 2008 Bronze Medallist and European and Commonwealth Champion, Gymnastics Bronze
Ade Adepitan MBE, Paralympic 2004 Bronze Medallist and Paralympic 2005 World Cup Champion, Wheelchair Basketball Bronze
Oscar Pistorius, Paralympic 2004/08 Multiple Gold Medallist, Athletics Bronze
Christine Ohuruogu, Olympic 2008 Gold Medallist, Athletics Bronze
Leon Taylor, Olympic 2004 Silver Medallist, Diving Bronze
Mark Foster, five times Olympian and multiple World Champion, Swimming Bronze
Alex O’Connell, Olympics 2008, Fencing Bronze
Debbie Flood, Olympic 2004/08 Silver Medallist and multiple World Champion, Rowing Bronze
Steve Williams OBE, Olympic 2004/08 Gold Medallist and multiple World Champion, Rowing Bronze (kindly on loan from the private collection of Mr Jeffery Frost)
Eve, female Olympic concept torso Bronze
Lee Pearson OBE, MBE, Paralympic 2000/04/08 Gold Medallist, Dressage Stone