More than 1,000 sculptures created by schoolchildren have gone on display at the Richmond gallery of internationally acclaimed artist Mackenzie Thorpe.
The individual clay figures were produced by children from 22 schools across Stockton as part of the two-year ‘You and I’ community art project.
Spearheaded by Yarm School and organised in collaboration with Mackenzie Thorpe, the project gave pupils the opportunity to create figures representing themselves.
Workshops were led by Yarm Prep School art lead Rachel Shepherd alongside local artist Jessica Jenyns, with Mackenzie also providing an inspirational video message for the youngsters.
The resulting collection of more than 1,000 characters was initially displayed as a public installation at the new Stockton Waterfront Urban Park.
The sculptures have now been moved to Mackenzie’s Arthaus Gallery in Richmond, where they will remain on display until the end of the month.
Mackenzie said: “It has been fantastic to be part of this project and to see what the children have created over the past two years.
“The idea was to give them the freedom to express themselves and create something that was their own.
“What came back was more than 1,000 completely different characters, each with their own personality.
“Seeing them all together is very powerful, and I wanted people to have the chance to see them here at the gallery.”
Rachel Shepherd said seeing the children’s reaction to having their work displayed in the gallery had been particularly rewarding.
She added: “I’m delighted that their dream has come to fruition.”
Yarm School headmaster Dr Huw Williams said the project had involved a significant amount of work over two years.
He added: “Working with Mackenzie has given children from across Stockton the opportunity to take part in a major collaborative art project and to see their own contribution become part of something much bigger.
“We are incredibly proud to have organised the project and seeing the sculptures together at Mackenzie’s gallery is a wonderful way to celebrate what the children have achieved.”
The project was also supported by regional law firm Jacksons.
