A life-sized Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton will be the star attraction at a new exhibition coming to West Kirby this week.
The 40ft replica has been hand sculpted in the back garden of local sculptor Gavin Rymill over the past six months from giant blocks of polystyrene.
It will go on display at the Dinosaurs in West Kirby exhibition which opens at the West Kirby Museum, in St Bridget’s Centre, from August 19-21.
Gavin, who is also the curator of the exhibition, said: “West Kirby Museum is a tiny little gem which explores the local history of the village and the archaeology of St. Bridget’s Church, and we want more people to know about it.
“The museum is part of larger a community centre which has a vast space with a lot of potential. I was in need of a new project and had this mad idea of putting a dinosaur St. Bridget’s Centre during the summer holidays!
“Unfortunately, a museum-quality T. rex replica costs about £80,000 and that’s a little beyond my budget but, as luck would have it, I’m a professional sculptor so I thought, ‘how hard could it be to make one?!'”
The exhibition will use a combination of artwork and science to portray the bones of dinosaurs and how they appeared in life.
Several artists have been specially commissioned to produce paintings which will sit alongside replicas, diagrams and a few real fossils to illustrate how these animals lived and died.
Britain’s prehistoric past will be explored via monstrous footprints, including some found on the Wirral, and displays will explain how the local geology fits into the wider view of palaeontology.
With its mix of strong visuals, life-sized fossils, scientific explanations and accurate exhibits, it is designed to appeal to adults and children alike.
Gavin, whose usual work is done on the computer, where he creates digital figurines, around 10cm high, that are 3D printed, has spent over 600 hours creating the gigantic creature.
He added: “If the three days go well and feedback is positive, then it would be a shame not to revive it somehow.
“If there’s an appetite for it, I can do the same thing again right here but ideally I’d like to keep adding to it, expanding it and who knows – maybe even house it permanently. I wonder if the public would welcome a ‘Wirral Dinosaur Centre’ one day?”
Details
Dinosaurs in West Kirby is open:
Friday 19th Aug – 10am to 4pm
Saturday 20th Aug – 10am to 4pm
Sunday 21st Aug – 12.30pm to 4pm
St Bridget’s Centre, St Bridget’s Lane, West Kirby, CH48 3JT
Entry is £5 for adults, £2 for children & seniors.
Family ticket £12 (up to 5 people, max 2 adults)
Contact: gav@dinosaursinwestkirby.co.uk
