021: Good News for Stoke & Staffordshire
ArtBox & ArtJam Light Up Town Centres, Staffordshire Olympians, Duchess China Partner with Joe Lycett.
Good News 🎉
ArtBox and ArtJam Light Up Newcastle & Hanley. Bins, BT boxes, electric cabinets and hoarding across Hanley and Newcastle-under-Lyme have become outdoor canvasses for artists.
Mural artists have taken to the streets to turn every day objects in public life into pieces of art to engage passers by, add colour and beauty to public spaces.
Alongside ArtBox’s which are now playfully dotted around the streets, Hanley hosted ArtJam for the first time this weekend. Taking over plain black hoardings used to cover up the site of the Etruscan Square development, mural artists used these to create mural art as the public watched on.
Staffordshire Olympians Going For Gold. 5 athletes from Staffordshire are competing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Swimming legend, Adam Peaty from Uttoxeter. Adam Burgess (Stone) and Joe Clarke (Stoke) in the Canoe Slalom. Dan Bigham from Newcastle-under-Lyme and Sophie Capewell from Lichfield in the Cycling. Adam Peaty has already won a Silver medal to add to his collection of Gold’s and breaststroke world records.
Adam Peaty, credit Aquatics GB Adam Burgess is in the C-1 Canoe Slalom semi final today at 2.30pm and Joe Clarke begins the heats for the K-1 event tomorrow at 3pm. Dan Bigham and Sophie Capewell will get started in the track cycling next week. Ashleigh Nelson and Jazmin Sawyers, both from Stoke, have missed out on the Olympics because of injury.
Duchess China Partner with Comedian, Joe Lycett. Sloppily designed after too many white wines, comedian Joe Lycett chose to team up with Duchess China in Stoke-on-Trent to turn his floppy “SLAGS” vase into reality.
Master Modeller, Gordon from Duchess China. Credit They Made This Master-modeller Gordon turned this “piece of shit design” into something real. Joe Lycett now joins Duchess China’s list of high end and celebrity clients including the Royal Family, House of Commons and Jimmy Choo. The recyclable packaging was also made by local company, Pelican. All profits from sales (250 limited edition) will go to ArtsEmergency, a charity that mentors and supports young artists.
Editor’s Note
Writing this I often wonder if we lean too far into the arts. Yet, this week, not far enough. Students at Clay College also have a graduation event showcasing the work of new potters and the Three Counties Art Exhibition opened in Burslem. I believe that the arts is leading a creative resurgence across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and therefore takes up a lot of the headlines.
Now over to you, The Knot is gearing up to commission some feature pieces that delve into topics that are important to our community and investigated by proper journalists on the ground here. Out of the below, what’s important to you? If there’s another topic you feel really matters send it in by replying to this email.
Cheers,
James
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