Artist, Keith Barrett, who has lived and worked in North Shields for the past 35 years, will give an update on his work to create a sculpture of escaped enslaved woman Mary Ann Machem, who became part of the North Shields community in the 19th century.
Keith has been working on the 10ft high sculpture for the past two years. It will stand, facing out to sea, at the top of the new walkway linking North Shields Fish Quay with the town centre.
The sculpture, being made using traditional carving methods at Keith’s studio in North Shields, portrays Mary Ann at the bow of the ship on her journey to freedom. It is now in its final stages and Keith will explain about how, before installation, it will be cast in bronze.
Two years ago, Keith responded to an invitation from North Tyneside Council to tender for some public art commissions as part of the major improvements currently taking place on the fish quay and town centre.
“Mary Ann was among the suggestions of heritage subjects listed within the tender, and I was inspired by her story. She is a lesser-known person in the history of North Shields, and I believe that it is important to celebrate her life and ensure that future generations are reminded of her bravery in escaping a life of slavery, and of how she was welcomed into the local community,” said Keith, who does work across the UK and sometimes internationally.
Mary Ann’s story was highlighted in an exhibition, ‘Breaking Chains’, at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre in 2019. It was coordinated by Nina Brown, a trustee and volunteer who shared research used for the exhibition with Keith to help inform how Mary Ann is to be portrayed.
The exhibition set out how Mary Ann escaped from a plantation in Virginia, stowed away on a ship bound for the Netherlands. After a treacherous sea journey, she travelled by road, eventually arriving in North Shields on Christmas Day 1831. On arrival she was met and cared for by members of the Spence family, who were Quakers and local businesspeople. After more than 60 years of freedom she died in 1893, aged 91.