New Look for County's 'Gateways'
Published on:
09
March 2007
First impressions count. And eye catching new signs at the county's 'gateways' have been designed to illustrate what a vibrant place Clackmannanshire is.
The new signs are located at the county's eastern and western 'gateways' - on the A907, just off the Gartarry roundabaout, and on the A91 on the outskirts of Menstrie.
The signs depict the county's greatest natural asset - the magnificent Ochils - with the wording, 'Clackmannanshire more than you imagine.'
Depute leader Councillor Eddie Carrick said: "I am delighted that these two new 'gateway' signs have been erected, giving visitors an attractive welcome to our beautiful county. I am also looking forward to seeing the other improvements as they happen."
The 'gateway' signs are part a programme of environmental improvements taking place around the county implemented by the Council's Development and Environmental Services. The programme includes landscaping and other enhancements, including public art, to a number of 'focal point' sites.
Councillor Carrick added: "The railway will re-open in the summer and the Clackmannanshire Bridge will open next year, so now is the perfect time to invest in improved signage, landscaping and public art."
Acclaimed Glasgow-based artist Andy Scott, creator of the impressive Clydesdale horse on the M8, has been commissioned by the Council's Culture and Community Services to make three sculptures.
The new works will be based on the county's industrial heritage and will be situated at the new civic square in Alloa Town Centre, at Muirside Roundabout and at Collylands Roundabout.
Work on the 4.5 metre high Alloa sculpture is progressing and takes the form of a working man looking up to the figure of a child. The sculpture will be sited outside the new railway station to coincide with the re-opening of the line and represents looking to the future. The piece also includes a number of panels where designs submitted by the community will be incorporated.
Since graduating from Glasgow School of Art in 1987 Andy has worked across a diverse range of artistic and creative projects. Public sculpture has been at the forefront of his activities, with dozens of commissions completed for a wide client base including corporate and civic organisations, public housing associations, sports and leisure groups and private clients.
Andy is a figurative sculptor and works in steel and bronze. He combines traditional figurative symbolism and artforms with contemporary fabrication techniques to create iconic sculptures for the public realm.
The Council's Cultural Links Programme ensures that local people are engaged in the creation of public art through contact with the artist and studio visits by schools and community groups.
The Council has employed community artist Margo Winning to engage with community groups and schools. She has already taken a group from Alloa to Andy's workshop in Glasgow where they got to see him in action. Events like this help to demystify the role of the artist and allow an opportunity to incorporate the creative input of local communities.
Photographs showing Andy's work as it progresses are available to view on ClacksWeb at http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/site/galleries/publicartinclackmannanshire/