Racing Ahead Dog Sculptures

Three cast-iron, painted greyhounds gambolling along amongst the shoppers in a pedestrianised street. They are naturalistically modelled and life-size. Explaining the intentions behind the sculpture, Reuben Kench, the chairman [At the time] of the City Challenge Public Arts Panel, said that the relationship between the dogs is 'one of playing and collaborative progress. It's that spirit of moving ahead together that the artist [Irene Brown] wanted to portray in the sculpture.' It was fabricated by Stockton Casting Co and cost of £30,000. At the time of its unveiling it was criticised for reinforcing Northern stereotypes. Stephen Smailes, a former Conservative mayor, declared, 'We've turned the clock back 30 years to an Andy Capp image'. As a result it was decided not to site it on the High Street outside the Town Hall as initially planned. However, a survey undertaken sometime later by Cleveland Arts (no date) indicated that it gradually found favour with local residents. 17% of respondents could name it and 54% said they liked it.

Extract from the Public Monuments & Sculpture Association