Flying high with giant Dragonfly sculpture

MOTORISTS traveling along the busy A303 at Solstice Park, Boscombe Down, will probably have spotted a six metre high sculpture with a strong resemblance to a giant dragonfly.

Indeed that is what the sculpture, entitled Dragonfly, is named. Created from a Gazelle helicopter by 12 third year apprentices from QinetiQ at the MoD site at Boscombe Down, the sculpture was designed by Downton sculptor and artist, Charlotte Moreton.

Charlotte worked with the apprentices to create the finished artwork, and this unusual project was part of this year's Salisbury International Arts Festival's environmental focus.

Hobnob has heard that the successful partnership between the festival and QinetiQ has won no less than three Arts & Business awards.

These awards were open to all businesses in the South West supporting arts events or organisations which had received funding from Arts & Business.

Winning the community award, the employees award and the champion of the year award for the most outstanding and beneficial business/arts partnership, festival director Jo Metcalf said: "Working with QinetiQ has been a unique experience and one which has opened many more doors in the business world to us."

Paul Whitelegg, QinetiQ's head of site for Boscombe Down added: "Creativity in the workplace was the main objective for getting involved. Usually taught rigid aircraft maintenance procedures and Health and Safety protocol, through art, the apprentices were given the freedom to be creative and stretch their own abilities."

The partnership now goes through to the national final in October 2008.

Salisbury Journal 18th October 2007