I have just returned from Newcastle where I have been running a number of workshops in Harbottle Park in Byker. We ran the workshops in the estates surrounding the park and invited people to come along and have a go. The idea was for them to think about a moment in a football match that they have watched or played in and to draw onto the stone their expression at that moment in time. They then spent time carving the stones which they could take away and keep. I have kept all of their drawings and will use them in a “crowd scene ” sculpture for the park which I will be making in the coming months. The workshops were a huge success with over 120 stones being carved by both children and adults. Of those who took part, the youngest was 2 and the oldest was 87! Well done to everyone who joined in, there were some great little carvings. I will post pictures of the “Crowd sculpture” on the blog as it develops.
The funky new sculpture for All Saints Primary School
I finished the sculpture in All Saints Primary School yesterday. After a scorching2 or 3 weeks in the playground chipping away at the boulder, I put the finishing touches to the stone which celebrates the past and present of the school and Coalville. During the project I was aided by all of the kids in the school (about150) most of whom were happy to get stuck in, each child took home some free stone dust every night on their clothes to show their parents. Some of the kids showeda natural ability and picked up the techniques really quickly. Unfortunately, one 5 year old had a total scatter-gun approach to where he was chiseling and proceeded to whack a big corner off one of the books that I had carved, ah well, you cant make an omelette without breaking eggs as they say. The sculpture will sit proudly for all to see at the front of the school when it is moved there in the next few weeks, just dont look too closely at the pile of books !
