Hebden Bridge Web

Wednesday, 29 November 2017

Arts Festival invite people to meet Ronja at the Town Hall

Ronja is actually the latest statue to find a home in the Town Hall's courtyard created by blacksmith and sculptor, Hannelora Johanson, who is an outdoor events artist working in metal.

Hannalora's inspiration comes primarily from nature, organic forms, and the beauty and character of the materials are often illustrated through fire.

Photo: HebWeb

Ronja was forged out of mild steel, copper and rams horns and her character was inspired by Ronja Rövardotter, which is a popular Scandanvian children's book by Astrid Lindgren.

Hannelora Johanson said, "At age 6 this story took over my whole world. I was living in Sweden surrounded by forest and spent most of my days with my sister and my two older cousins."

 

Photos: left Paul Clarke, right Richard Needham

Ronja's visit is part of a plan hatched by Arts Festival board member Billie Klinger to have a year round programme of highly regarded sculptors working in different mediums who would bring new work to the Town Hall.

The Arts Festival had seen the potential of the courtyard when they staged Hilary Jack's interactive Inside Out House where it was viewed by people having snacks in the cafe and from the old and new bridges.

The first visitor was Richard Sharples' Green Woman Daphne and the popularity of that installation prompted Billie Klinger to persuade Hannelora to bring Ronja out of her forge to Hebden Bridge

Arts Festival Artistic Director Helen Meller said, 'We are really excited about bring new work from established artists right into the heart of community life at the town hall who have been incredibly supportive of the programme. The feedback about Ronja has been tremendous from young and old and everyone in between.'

Ronja will be in the Town Hall courtyard until 22 January 2018 - Monday- Friday 9-5 and Saturdays 10-3.

The Town Hall is closed from 23 December  – 2 January 2018.