Published on 30 October 2017
Visitors to Sunderland Illuminations have the chance to see an award-winning work of art this week – when 500 ceramic squirrels help light up the city.
Dan Gough, who graduated BA Glass and Ceramics from the University last year, won the Gillian Dickinson North East Young Sculptor Award for his ambitious work ‘Scurry’ – depicting 2,000 red and grey squirrels - created by Dan at National Glass Centre.
Now the artwork has been reimagined in light for display at this year’s Sunderland Illuminations.
Dan spent nine months creating his artwork at National Glass Centre with support and mentoring from Cheeseburn Sculpture, unveiling Scurry to critical acclaim in May 2017.
Now visitors to Roker Park can enjoy the installation at Sunderland Illuminations, which is open every evening from 5pm–10pm in Roker Park until 5 November.
Dan said: “I've teamed up with fellow glass and ceramics graduate Siobhan Igoe who helped co-produce Scurry.
“We are both very happy to have the work in the Sunderland Illuminations, and see the sculpture return to the city it was produced in.”
Graeme Thompson, Chair of Sunderland Culture and Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Sunderland was instrumental in bringing the work back to the city. He said: "We are delighted to see the squirrels coming home to Sunderland where they started their lives at National Glass Centre.
“Dan Gough's award-winning work has been wowing visitors to Cheeseburn in Northumberland and I am confident the many thousands of visitors to the Illuminations will remember Scurry as a real highlight."