Charity teams up with Citi, Canary Wharf Group, Wild In Art and the Canal And River Trust to create trail
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Kudos to Guide Dogs, Wild In Art, Citi, Canary Wharf Group and the Canal And River Trust.
The organisations have come together to create a pop-up trail of 25 sculptures, celebrating and raising awareness of the charity’s work.
Inspired by a London-based guide dog called Theia, each of the canine statues has been decorated by a different artist, forming a route that takes visitors across Canary Wharf as well as to West India Quay and Canary Garden.
“The Paws On The Wharf trail features sculptures scattered all over this area with a total distance of about 5km,” said Guide Dogs CEO, Andrew Lennox, at the launch event.
“We’ve only just launched and we’re already seeing such great engagement and involvement with the public.
“People who see these sculptures are appreciating the art, but also learning more about the impact Guide Dogs has on people’s lives every single day and the artists behind the creations.
“We had Theia at the launch, who is a dog sponsored by one of our amazing partners Citi, which is also supporting the trail.”
Jackson Mendosa, chief of staff to Citi’s UK CEO, added: “Two things that make this trail stand out are accessibility and inclusivity, which are also concepts we believe we embrace as a firm through our staff and our business.
“Guide Dogs was our charity partner between 2020 and 2022, with Theia the result of that relationship – but it was also the start of this initiative.
“Paws On The Wharf’s first sculpture is just outside Citi’s offices and I’d like to thank everyone involved in the trail – it’s really something phenomenal.”
Key among those involved are, of course, the artists.
Sian Healey created Guide Dog Adventures for the trail, which can be found near the eastern exit from Canary Wharf’s Crossrail Station.
She said: “I’m from Cardiff and I’ve been visually impaired since I was a child, due to a form of albinism that affects my eyes, hair and skin.
“I lose melanin slowly over time.
“I’ve always needed extra support and help throughout my life, whether that was with education or mobility and, eventually I applied for a guide dog, which now gives me independence.
“I had my first guide dog 15 years ago when my children were young and that opened up my world considerably.
“I had been pretty independent before when I was on my own – using my cane and hiding my disability as much as possible.
“But with young children you can no longer do that because you could be putting them in danger.
“Once I had children, I had to accept how poor my vision was – how potentially dangerous simple tasks like walking across a road could be – and I had to reach out and accept help, because it was affecting my mental health too.”
Having donated artwork to Guide Dogs as a way of giving something back to the charity, Sian was invited to contribute a piece to the trail.
She said: “I submitted a few ideas which were developed and eventually accepted.
“Then, one day, Wild In Art delivered a big statue of a guide dog to my home and I was left with the paints.
“Uri – my current guide dog – didn’t like him at all.
“We had to cover the sculpture with a duvet most of the time. Uri wouldn’t go near him, even while I was working.
“I wanted my piece to be about being a guide dog owner and, of the 25, mine is probably the most realistic-looking.
“He’s in a traditional harness and has a nose that’s the same colour as Uri’s.
“Then I thought about what these dogs do for us and how I could depict that.
“The main thing is to do with travel – getting out and about and doing things.
“So I thought of postcards of different places people had been with their guide dogs.
“The organisers wanted it to reflect all parts of the UK, so I have views from Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.
“I also wanted it to reflect the diversity of what the charity offers, so there are different dogs on there – labradors, retrievers and a shepherd – with a variety of owners.
“I’ve always painted and drawn, although I did stop for a while.
“It started picking up again when I had my first guide dog, who helped me to get to art classes and build my confidence up.
“It’s something I’ve always loved doing, and my artwork is different from other people’s because of the way I see – it’s very blurry and abstract at times, because that’s the way my world is.
“I have no depth vision, so that’s why my paintings are a bit flat but very bright.
“I have to wear dark glasses and hats all the time because the light burns my eyes and I have no colouring in the back of them.
“In certain lights I can’t see anything at all, but in other lights I can see quite well up to my nose.
“My sight is constantly changing and it’s not something I can depend on.
“It’s quite a buzz to have a piece included in the trail.
“I hope Paws On The Wharf helps people understand that visual impairment is a spectrum, not just one thing and that this trail helps raise awareness.”
Following the trail, the sculptures are set to be auctioned off to raise money for Guide Dogs.
This will take place at the Saatchi Gallery on June 5, 2024, with a limited number of tickets, costing £20, available on an application basis.
Prices will start at £2,000. Those interested in attending should in the first instance email pawsonthewharf@guidedogs.org.uk for more information.
key details
The Paws On The Wharf trail starts in Jubilee Park and is available to follow from now until May 17, 2024.
Visitors can tour the sculptures at their leisure using either a digital or printed map.
A limited number of free, bookable, 90-minute multi-sensory tours – with priority spaces for people with sight loss and the option to request a sighted guide – will also be held on various dates during the trail’s run.
These will include both items to smell and touch.
Find our more about Paws On The Wharf here
Read more: How St James’ Bow Green development is at one with nature
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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
