Art project gives the public paws for thought

STUDENTS from a Smith's Wood school have designed one of the eye-catching bears which form part of a new art trail around Birmingham and Solihull.
The Big Sleuth invites families to travel the region to track down more than 200 ceramic statues (100 of the larger characters are straight from the imagination of local artists, with the smaller "cubs" having been crafted by schoolchildren).
Each one has its own unique design, with Forest Oak School having worked on one of five fur-midable figures installed at Birmingham Airport.
The pupils' particular creation has been dubbed the Mindfulness Bear (pictured, right).
It has a vivid patchwork coat and takes inspiration from a form of meditation which has become increasingly popular in recent years.
The public event, which will run until September 17, will be raising money for Birmingham Children's Hospital - the larger bears will be auctioned off in the autumn.
It follows the success of The Big Hoot, which took place two years ago and saw scores of owl statues appear around the region.
This time organisers chose to unleash an army of colourful bears, having argued that the animal is popular with all ages.
Louise McCathie, the director of fundraising at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’re so excited that The Big Sleuth is finally here, we have been planning the bears' arrival since the owls left and we can’t bear-lieve it’s finally here!”
You can find out more about the trail at The Big Sleuth's official website. There is also a map available to download, which will allow people to track down the individual statues more easily, and a phone app through which people can complete a series of activities.