You & I – Community Clay Project

Please refer back to this page as it will be updated as the project moves forward!

The Big Idea

With the redevelopment of Stockton taking place and set to be completed by Summer 2026, we would like to get at least 1000 children from the borough to make a clay figure based on themselves to display on the steps leading to the River Tees for an event, bringing together the children of Stockton. This would be loosely based on Field by Antony Gormley, with the clay figures put together on the steps of the urban park or another part of the redevelopment to be determined. It would be a short term installation, with an event seeing the children joining their models in a celebration of the opening. The image/vision will be a wonderful representation and celebration of the children in Stockton, making the connection between the new urban space and the next generation who will use the space.

Our plan

Our plan is to take clay workshops into as many schools as possible over the next two years, so as many current Year 4 children from the Stockton Borough Council catchment area can contribute a clay figure for the art installation. As creative skills are being reduced in timetables due to time and economic constraints, these workshops are a valuable way of encouraging creativity and skills based learning. By taking part in the project, the children will create a clay figure representation of themselves, which would then form a part of the installation.

Timeline

October 2024 Visit first school to launch the project

By Start of June 2026 Expected models total: 870-900 (29-30 schools)

Late May/June 2026 Opening of Stockton riverside development; presentation of models

Clay models

  • Size of models – Models will be approximately 15-30cm in height.
  • Colour – No colours will be used; the colour will come from the different types of clay used for the project.
  • Storage prior to the event – We have space in our buildings to store the figures.

Final event at the Stockton riverside development

The working title of the project is ‘You and I’. This is reflective of the fact that Year 4 children will see this project through and will be preparing to transition to Secondary School and the changes experienced in that period will be vast and character forming. This also reflects the universal themes of ‘connection’, ‘growing up’, ‘being together/ stronger together’ and to support PSHE learning that everyone is individual and embracing difference and togetherness.

It was also a way of connecting to the text that has overlooked Stockton’s iconic riverside for years: “All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full,” and “We are waves of the same sea, leaves of the same tree, flowers of the same garden.”

The proposal for the delivery of the event is a one day event, from 10am-4pm, with the art works sited with support from a curator and events production team. We will need to be mindful of space, weather and ensuring the sculptures are safely displayed. Photographing the sculptures at all stages is crucial as, because we are working outdoors, we won’t be able to guarantee that each sculpture is in one piece without slight damage.

The core of the event will focus on ‘play, create, explore’, focusing on the experience of the children who have participated, their teachers, families and our loyal family audiences. The focal point will be the exhibition of the 900 sculptures with the addition of some participatory activities and a space to celebrate the children’s/teachers achievements and learning, including a place to showcase the images of the digital gallery.

Digital Gallery

The idea of a digital gallery has been suggested as a way of recording the project in a permanent manner, as well as ensuring each child who participates gets a record of their figure/representation (just in case there are any breakages).

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