Issued: April 2016

Bostonair is backing a major public art project to celebrate the life of pioneering aviator Amy Johnson, and had a sneak preview of the giant Moth sculptures before artists get to work on them.

Tom Anderton and Letitia Fowler had their first glimpse of the unpainted Moths after a launch at Hull History Centre on Friday, April 1, to mark the official launch of the “A Moth for Amy” project.

More than 45 businesses from across the region have already pledged their support to A Moth for Amy, a mass engagement public art project based on the concept of the hugely successful Larkin with Toads initiative.

Giant moth sculptures, created by local sculptor, Saffron Waghorn, are set to be painted by artists in designs of the supporting businesses’ choice and will then be placed at locations across Hull, East Yorkshire and beyond – many of significance to Amy Johnson’s story.

Amy Johnson CBE was one of the most influential and inspirational women of the twentieth century. She was the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia in 1930 and set a string of other records throughout her career.

The launch on April 1 gives the first 45 businesses who have pledged their support a chance to see the moth sculptures they have sponsored for the first time before they are painted by a range of artists and community groups.

Tom Anderton Group Marketing Manager said: “Bostonair are delighted to be supporting this wonderful project and we eagerly await seeing the finished moths. This will no doubt capture the public’s imagination in the forthcoming months.”

The Moth for Amy project is part of a wider cultural festival, using Amy’s legacy to create an exciting programme from July through to September based on art, science and engineering.
Amy Johnson Festival director Rick Welton said: “We’re delighted to be able to unveil the moths to those who have already shown their support for this wonderful project. It is fantastic to see the positive response from the region’s business community, as well as from health, education and social groups, who have already sponsored a moth. The popularity of the Larkin with Toads project is a great indicator of how well-received major art schemes are in Hull, so we encourage those businesses and organisations who still want to pledge their support to come on board while there is still time.”

The festival team has also linked up with Artlink, based in Princes Avenue, to create community moths based on a design created by local community groups. In collaboration with certain businesses and organisations, groups will work with an artist to create the design which will then be painted onto their Moth for Amy.

The moths will appear on the streets in July.

Project Manager, Clare Huby, added: “There is a wonderful range of designs, all inspired by Amy and the festival themes. Many of the artists are locally based but we have also had beautiful designs from across the UK and from as far away as Australia, USA and India! This festival not only shows how important Amy Johnson’s legacy is in Hull, but it also showcases the huge amount of talent there is in the region from Saffron, our sculptor, through to the artists we have working on the moths. This is fantastic recognition of the legacy Amy created on an international scale.”

Content courtesy of Amy Johnson Festival. Read more at amyjohnsonfestival.co.uk