Launch Day

There are three new installations (2025) on St Peter's Sculpture Trail in Sunderland, part of the C2C cycle network. This post is about Ray Lonsdale's Launch Day, but if you want to find the other two they are called Dead and Gone (It Says Here) and Ron Lawson's Molly the Welder.

Both Launch Day and Dead and Gone (It Says Here) are twice-life-size figures sitting on a bench and have synergy.

On Tworedrubberthings' Facebook page, Ray says:

"Being asked to create two works to represent the shipbuilding link with Sunderland, the first images that came to mind were of hard graft and technical skills, but then I wanted to try and show a different angle to the obvious. I wanted to link the old town with the new city in a more positive way, a way that showed a less-seen aspect of a working day, and then create a three decade later version of that time of day."

Below is a photo of how Ray uses his creative skills to cut out many profiles of the face, and they are then joined together. Mr Lonsdale uses this technique on men, the ladies and girls are given fairer complexions. In this instance, it is used to create the moustache and beard for Grandad.

On Tworedrubberthings website, Ray explains that Launch Day is:

"{...} the welder from the second piece, thirty years later, explaining what a ship's launch was like to his grandchild, something she will never witness on the River Wear."

The granddaughter was modelled by a girl from the local primary school. The grandad has the characteristic pose of resting his hands on his walking stick, and as any grandparent would, he has brought his granddaughter a 99 Flake.

Can you spot the two red rubber dots, not so red now. Clue, Look at the girls sandal.

Ray AKA Tworedrubberthings is an outstanding steel artist who creates astounding pieces that should make you ruminate and he welcomes people to interact with them, physically and/or emotionally. Look for the prose too, they are gems of wisdom and canny use of our language, some with a twist in their meaning. The first verse of the poem is reminiscing.

Followed by the metaphor in the second verse:

Days of wonder then petty insecurities,
Followed by swagger and poise and missed opportunities,
Then down the other side on polished runner,
Faster and further from invincible summer,
Crashing through the brief autumn blaze,
As you scream from salad to vegetable days

Generally, Mr Lonsdale's work is in keeping with its surroundings and has content on social history. You may know of Tommy in Seaham and Gan Canny in Keel Square, Sunderland. There are in the region of 30 works in the North East.

If you are a fan of his work, view the Ray Lonsdale section, and if you enjoy the sculpture trail, check out the other pieces in the area, such as Shadows in Another Light, Flight and the Red House. Use the Fabulous North map to look up more information about the area.