York City FC Foundation and local artist Sue Clayton partner up once again to invite artists to the LNER Community Stadium this coming Thursday to capture the stadium in their own art-form perspective.
Having worked together on projects including the 140-portrait installation in the Fan Zone at the LNER Community Stadium and having Clayton as a judge for the Football v Homophobia shirt design competition, there is a new venture for both coming soon.
This coming Thursday, 13th July, will see Sue, and York City FC Foundation welcome aspiring artists of all abilities to the LNER Community Stadium to capture the essence of the stadium in art-form. The event will take place between 6:30pm-8:30pm, with entry being priced at £5 which is payable on the evening only. The meeting point will be in the Stadium’s community hub.
With the opportunity to set up on the East Stand balcony, artists will be able to spend a few hours under the expert eye of Sue, capturing the stadium from their perspective in whatever art-form they choose (artists will need to bring their own materials).
Clayton said: “Soon we’ll be working with and inviting the community to come as artists to capture, almost ‘landscape artist of the year’ style within the stands. I think what I really like is, art and football, the two cultures coming together, the possibilities and the endless scope of that.
The new art sessions on offer follow on from previous work, including the art installation that many City fans will be very familiar with already, the success of that has stretched to the foundation receiving £1500 of funds risen by the local artist.
Clayton looks back fondly on her first involvement with the Foundation and the club, she added: “York City coming on board and saying ‘can we celebrate and have a piece in the Fan Zone?’ was a particular highlight. As a York lass born and bred, it’s a huge honour to have a whole body of work out there to share with the community in my home city.
“It’s been quite a journey, I mean it really has, just from that initial idea, talking to Michael (Miles) on that bench not knowing anything at all really about York City.
“I quickly became embroiled because of the enthusiasm of the fan that started it. Originally the plan was to create just ten portraits,… it’s ended up being 140!”
The wall consists of watercolour, acrylic and oil paintings, as well as charcoal, pen and ink works showcasing numerous memories and moments for City fans. If you haven’t yet seen it in the flesh, it’s recommended you do so on matchday.
“I think what I liked is the coming together of people, I remember Michael saying it’s the bin man to the professor to the shop steward to anyone. It’s all walks of life that come along and that’s really what I wanted to portray from the babies through to the people in their 80s and 90s who come to every match”, Clayton recalled.
The York-born artist doesn’t intend to finish her working partnership with the Foundation and the club, with more events in the planning.
Clayton said: ‘I’ve become more involved in York City (Foundation) itself, going along to the sporting memories group, sketching the group, taking part in their activities was thoroughly enjoyable. I shall enjoy working with the community groups linked with the foundation more in the future.”
Clayton now considers herself part of the York City family, a regular attendee in the South Stand with her son James, something she never saw coming when she was younger.
“I grew up in a family that hated football, we’d turn it off the TV and have nothing on the if there was any football on.
“I love being able to walk into the stands and suddenly the sense of belonging that you get. I always thought it was about the football, a game but it’s not it’s about the community, it’s about the people, the stories you share, it’s that feeling of community coming together.
“It’s almost like another religion, it’s people coming together for the same cause which is great.”
To book, email [email protected].