Wednesday 25th February 2010 saw the latest in a

long line of theme nights at the Malago WI.

 

This month it was the turn of Morph to pay us all a visit – he

was kindly brought along in his pure form by Aardman's stop motion animator, Merlin Crossingham.

 

Each of the tables in the hall was well stocked with English

Plasticine, all in a fleshtone hue, which apparently is Morph’s true colour –

who knew? We eagerly seized the packets, ripped them open and began moulding

the clay. Soon the room was filled with a scent of childhood as many hands

became busy and sticky. Strange lumpy little figures began to emerge across the

tables. Merlin warned us not to get carried away too soon and to rein in our

eager creativity until he had had time to demonstrate how to turn a lump of

pink putty into a Morph.

 

We watched transfixed as his hands worked expertly away all

the time he was talking to us and soon a Morph materialized as if by magic. He

explained how to imbue the figure with personality by giving it a stance and an

attitude, and soon, amazingly, we could all see that little figure coming to

life before our eyes.

 

We industriously set to the task in hand and soon a sea of Morves

frolicked across the tables. They were in a variety of different sizes and

proportions, it was as if a small army of pink figures had marched in and taken

over our meeting. Then the black and white Plasticine was produced so we could

add eyes to our creations. Leftover pieces became hats, moustaches and walking

sticks as the figures were dressed and posed before a multitude of camera

phones snapped their likenesses.

 

In addition to a fun evening of sculpture, we learnt lots

about the history of Aardman Animations that we mostly didn’t know, it was good

to get some background information on one of Bristol’s success stories and it’s

great that the company shares their achievement with the city by getting out

and involved with organisations rather than reclining behind towering spires of

glory - which of course, it would be easy to do after their triumphs over the

years.

 

Merlin kindly donated his marvellous Morph as a raffle prize

and the lucky winner carefully carried him (that’s Morph not Merlin!) away into

the night.

 

It was amusing to see a steady stream of women trickling out

of the hall, each carefully transporting her own Morph has if he were made of

spun gossamer down!