Uncovering Stoke's Forgotten Festival Sculptures and Artistic Treasures

Back in 1986, Stoke-on-Trent became the center of attention when it hosted the National Garden Festival. This event was a big deal for the city, and it brought with it more than 100 pieces of public art. Vivien Lovell, who was responsible for looking after all the artworks, admitted that there were probably too many sculptures at the festival. Over the years, many of these sculptures were forgotten, and some even disappeared completely. However, a few of them remain scattered around Stoke-on-Trent, serving as reminders of the summer when the city was filled with creativity and visitors from all over.

One of the most well-known sculptures from the festival was created by Antony Gormley. His piece, called A View, A Place, was a figure of a man standing next to a brick pillar at the highest point of the festival site. The sculpture overlooked the Fowlea Valley, where factories and nature met. Gormley said that the area's industrial history was just as important as ancient sites like Stonehenge. The sculpture was actually a mold of Gormley's own body, with holes where the eyes would be so people could look inside. Unfortunately, people kept poking their fingers into the eye sockets, which made the holes bigger and changed the way the sculpture looked. Because of this, the artwork had to be removed before the festival ended. Lovell explained that people were just curious, not trying to damage the art.

Another sculpture that has become a permanent part of the city is Her Head by Dhruva Mistry. This large green head sits on a brick base on Potteries Way. The sculpture was given to the city by the Henry Moore Foundation and moved to its current spot in 1988. Now, Her Head is one of 24 heritage landmarks in Stoke-on-Trent that will receive money from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help restore and protect them. Jane Ashworth, the city council leader, said these landmarks are important because they help tell the story of Stoke-on-Trent and its people.

There are other artworks from the festival that can still be found today. For example, there is a stone circle on a ridge above Festival Park, and a sculpture called Windborne - The Phoenix by Keir Smith, which looks like a feather floating on a cloud. Some of the art was more unusual, like an audio piece set up by British Telecom. People could call a free phone number and listen to others talk about their gardening experiences.

One of the most talked-about artworks was a brick sculpture of Josiah Wedgwood, made by Vincent Woropay. The sculpture, known as Capo, was rebuilt and placed at Etruria Hall, which was the headquarters for the 1986 festival. Chloe Chard, the artist's widow, said her husband would have been very happy to see his work restored and displayed again. Lovell said that the festival was not originally meant to focus so much on sculpture, but it ended up being a major part of the event. She said it was especially good for young artists, giving them a chance to try out their ideas in public. Watching people interact with the art was a wonderful experience, she said. Lovell believes the festival achieved its goal of using art to help improve the city, and now many people agree that art is an important part of making places better.

Today, people in Stoke-on-Trent can still see and enjoy some of the art from the 1986 National Garden Festival. These sculptures and landmarks are a lasting legacy of a time when the city celebrated creativity and welcomed people from near and far.