Gateshead Family Sculpture Day a hit with children
Sep 27 2010 by Amy Hunt, The Journal
BUDDING sculptors of all ages came up with incredible creations as a popular event celebrated its silver jubilee.
The 25th annual Gateshead Family Sculpture Day took place in Saltwell Park yesterday, with the occasion being marked with a silver theme.
From spaceships to castles, horses to giant fish, racing cars to clocks, visitors turned the most basic of materials into stunning sculptures.
Tons of wood were provided by organisers Gateshead council, along with tools to hire and nails to buy, and professional artists were on hand to help visitors translate their ideas into pieces of art.
Families also had the chance to have a go at the ancient Japanese art of Raku Pottery, painting a tile with special glazes, watching it be fired in the kiln and taking it home as a souvenir of the day.
Live bands played throughout the day and sculptures made by children from four local schools in workshops held over the last week were on display.
Sonia Hudson and husband John brought daughter India, two, and son Sebastian, five, to the event from their home in Wallsend, North Tyneside.
Mrs Hudson said: “It’s an amazing day. It brings people together, everyone has been talking and the creativity that people come up with is amazing.
“The children have played all day and you don’t feel like you have to occupy them at all.”
Peter and Rachel Tate travelled from Spennymoor, County Durham, with their sons Samuel, five, and Ethan, three, to the event to meet friends Colin and Dawn Kelly and their son Logan, three, who live in Low Fell, Gateshead.
Mr Tate said: “This is the first time we’ve been and it’s fantastic. The kids have loved it, whether dragging the wood together or hammering, they’ve had a great time.”
Artist Paul Merrick, from Bensham, Gateshead, was one of those helping families come up with ideas for their creations, but he also brought his son Zach along to join in.
He said: “I think it’s an amazing event, there should be more like it. I think it’s great to encourage children to make things and use a hammer and saw in this world of health and safety.
“There are mums and dads all getting involved and I think that family interaction is really good. It’s a unique event.”
Karolynne Hart of Gateshead’s arts development team, said: “It has been a fantastic day.
“We have had hundreds of people here from first thing this morning. We’ve had lots of amazing ideas for the silver theme, from robots and aliens to watches and eagles.
“It’s one of those nice events which brings families and people of all ages together. They don’t need to bring anything with them but ideas and it has a real community feel.
“People come here year after year, but there are also people who have come here for the first time. It will be nice to celebrate the 30th and 40th, but I’m not sure I’ll still be around for the 50th!”
It’s great to encourage children to use a hammer and saw in a world of health and safety
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