Planning apps to be submitted for three new city sculptures

Plans to extend Sunderland's Sculpture Trail with three stunning new sculptures are to be put before city planners this month [July 2024].

Two of the sculptures have been created by famous North East artist, Ray Lonsdale, and will complement the locally cherished 'Gan Canny' sculpture at Keel Square.

The other is a striking tribute to the city's forgotten women shipyard workers created by Dr Ron Lawson, a Sunderland born artist whose own career started in heavy industry.

Planning applications for the three sculptures will be submitted in the coming weeks, and should they find favour with the committee, the sculptures are expected to be installed later this year.

Cllr Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "It's fantastic that the planning applications for these stunning new sculptures are finally being submitted this month.

"Since Gan Canny was installed in 2021, it has proven a welcome extension of the Sculpture Trail, capturing the hearts of residents while drawing visitors from across the city and beyond.

"It has also perfectly encapsulated the city's rich industrial heritage, which is a theme that will hopefully carry on through these three new works of art too."

The two new Ray Lonsdale sculptures, made of corten steel, will pay homage to the city's rich shipbuilding heritage.

The first piece is a large sculpture with two shipyard workers having their lunch together and captures the mood of people in the city as the industry came to the end of its life.

The second, Launch Day, depicts a young girl sat with her grandfather overlooking the River Wear, hearing stories of what it was like to work in the shipyards.

"The reception that Gan Canny has had since it was installed has been really humbling for me," said Ray, who spent 19 months working on the two sculptures.

"It's the most daunting part of creating artwork like this, when it's time for its unveiling. Gan Canny was put in place during the pandemic, so we didn't do a public reveal, but I am obviously delighted with the reaction since it appeared.

"I have had countless messages from people saying how it makes them feel, and it means a lot. And I am looking forward to seeing what people think of the other two pieces when the time comes for us to get them into position too. They're designed to unlock a sense of optimism for the future, but to make people feel proud too - of the heritage of the city."

Dr Ron Lawson was commissioned by the Sunderland branch of the Soroptimists - who work to support and champion women and girls across the world - with the support of Sunderland City Council and Apextra CIC, to create a piece that would represent a lasting legacy for the Wearside women who - as part of a herculean wartime effort that saw shipyards producing military vessels that were vital to the British armed forces - made their way to the banks of the Wear to do their bit.

Made from forged and welded Corten self-weathering steel, the artwork - which is designed to look life-like - is named Molly and celebrates the 700 women who were among the workers who pushed through harsh conditions on the banks of the Wear during the war, often with partners fighting overseas and families to feed at home, to support their nation.

Dr Lawson said: "It's such a privilege for a Sunderland artist to be commissioned to design and create such an iconic sculpture.

"I'm very proud of my Sunderland heritage, and I feel really connected to the subject and the place. The metalwork skills I'm using to make the sculpture were honed when I was an apprentice sheet metal worker at the North Dock, just a few hundred yards away from where she will be standing.

"The sculpture is a life-size representation of a female welder wearing the personal protective equipment of the period, and she herself is made from forged and welded steel, which is rather appropriate."

Suzanne Brown, who has been a member of the Soroptimists for more than 35 years, was part of the collective who appointed Dr Lawson to work on the Molly sculpture.

She said: "We are absolutely thrilled with the beautiful tribute that Ron has designed and it will be a dream come true to see it in place when it's complete. It wouldn't have been possible without the wonderful support of Ron, the council and Apextra CIC.

"These were women undertaking jobs like welding, riveting, burning and rivet catching, as well as general labouring, operating cranes, and painting. It was perilous work. Yet, history seems to have forgotten them. We really felt that these women deserve something - a permanent tribute - to honour their bravery and hard work. We wanted to acknowledge the courage and dedication of the shipyard women, as well as to celebrate the Soroptimists, which has done so much to champion women and girls in this city."

The Sculpture Trail, running along the final part of the Coast to Coast cycle route, was created over a decade from 1991 to 2001 by sculptor Colin Wilbourn and writer Chaz Brenchley.

Colin and Chaz worked with residents of Sunderland to create the trail which brings together Sunderland's past and present.

Local people played a significant part in the making of the trail. Around the plinth of 'Shadows in Another Light' are plaques showing the history of Sunderland, including the Lambton Worm, which were created in workshops by blind and partially sighted people.

The trail includes a 'shadow' of a hammerhead crane common in Sunderland shipyards, and 'Taking Flight' which shows a Cormorant taking flight in five stages. A collection of huge stone books outside the University Library refer to Bede and the Great Library of St Peter's and is named 'Pathways to Knowledge' and a series of three doors called 'Passing Through' represents past, present and future, only the present door you may pass through.

Cllr Mordey added: "The Sculpture Trail has proven hugely popular over the last three decades, bringing residents and artists from across the region together to help improve the city's cultural offering.

"It has been a huge success since its launch and we have every confidence that these three new sculptures will continue to build on its success, by drawing more people to the area while ensuring the city's fascinating story continues to be told to future generations."