Town comes together as one

"OUR Woven Voices" is a new community art sculpture inspired by over 1,000 residents and their interpretation of what their local area means to them.

- NICOLE GOODWIN Reporter

Standing in North Shields town centre, the sculpture is said to represent the overwhelming spirit of togetherness and connectedness in the community.

The sculpture is located outside North Shields Magistrates Court and was unveiled yesterday by Helix Arts. It was made by internationally renowned Canadian artist Aaron Li-Hill, who also worked with fellow artist Laura Brenchley to engage local people during numerous community art sessions.

It represents artworks by more than 1,000 local residents of all ages who took part in participatory arts workshops to create artworks and scrapbooks about what North Shields means to them - past, present and future.

Laura worked with local people to capture a spirit of togetherness which bonds the people of North Shields together during numerous community art workshops around the town, including in schools, public places, community groups, pubs, and North Shields FC.

Aaron worked with local dancers to capture their poses then interwove them with the participatory artworks into the final sculpture, which is said to be about everyday places like chip shops, beaches and parks.

Aaron said: "This sculpture, my first major public sculpture of its kind, holds a special place for me. It's about what holds us together, what binds us to place, to community and the strength in solidarity and support. A strength that we have together, astronomically greater than alone.