More carved stone nature artworks are set to be created, potentially to decorate a renovated footpath between Spalding and Springfields.
Transported Arts says it has been overwhelmed at the response to stone carving sessions it has hosted in the area, inspired by the stone cow and sheep artworks installed in the town centre last year.
The artist behind those newest additions to the MARK-It Trail, Graeme Mitcheson, held sessions for members of the public to try the skills involved, and they’ve proved to be hugely popular.
So much so that they’re back in March, and this time attendees will be working towards creating nature- themed waymarkers to adorn the current project and update the footpath by the Coronation Channel, to provide a link with the shopping outlet and town centre.
Sophie Arnold from Transported Arts said: “The stone carving initial workshops were a legacy of the cattle and sheep stone sculptures in Spalding as a way to embed the skills need to create the sculptures that now form part of Spalding’s identity.
“The response to the free stone carving workshops has been amazing. The places have been snapped-up thanks to word of mouth from the passionate first handful of participants.
“Because of not only the incredible work being made by first time carvers, the good fortune of finding a perfect venue in Tonic 44 but also the fantastic enthusiasm and positive attitude of the participants, we couldn’t let them end and decided to extend them.
“Next, we will keep working with the carvers with Graeme on occasion to enhance the skillsets further so members can guide one another too, and provide public art opportunities so the group can put their own creative legacy in the area – and the extending the Spalding Riverwalk trail is part of this.
“For us it would be wonderful and very rewarding to be adding further value and connecting both of these projects.”
The sessions take place on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am to 3pm at the Tonic 44 Community Hub in Surfleet and begin again on Wednesday, March 13.
