Public Art in Clackmannanshire

River SpiritThose of you with sharp eyes may have noticed a few changes around the county recently. Namely the pieces of Public Art which have appeared in various locations. I think the most commented on piece is "River Spirit",a beautiful sculpture of a woman holding the River Forth aloft. Her hands and hair are in the form of foliage.
She is constructed from galvanised steel mosaic.
River Spirit stands,facing the Ochil Hills on Collylands roundabout between Glenochil and Fishcross and is well worth a detour.
I have heard only good comments about this piece of public art which is very unusual and I know of people who have changed their route to work just to look at her!

River Spirit up closeRiver Spirit was created by Sculptor Andy Scott. Andy is a down to earth Glasgow man working from a studio/workshop in Maryhill.His work is stunning and is gaining in popularity around the world.
To have such a fine example of work by an internationally recognized,home grown artist is a great asset to Clackmannanshire,but it does not stop there..
Andy will be creating another 2 artworks for the Wee County.one will be sited on Muirside roundabout in Tullibody and the other will be in Alloa`s new town square opposite Asda.
I hear Andy has also been commissioned by the British Waterways Board to create a sculpture which will be sited between Grangemouth and Falkirk.
He will be making 2 x 35 metre high Kelpie heads(water horses from Scottish mythology)
Each head will be the height of the Falkirk wheel,but these are not just beautiful sculptures,they are to become part of a boat lift mechanism at the entrance to the Forth&Clyde canal. Their heads will rock,slowly displacing water and allowing boats to move between the networks of waterways.
I can see this one going down in the history books for its beauty and innovation if it does go ahead.
to see more of Andy`s work go to http://www.scottsculptures.co.uk

You may also have noticed a recent installation on Dumyat roundabout outside Tullibody.
This is the creation of artist Michael Visocchi.This work for Clackmannanshire is his first outdoor sculpture and relates to the industrial heritage of the area,depicting glass blowing and the manufacture of bottles for the brewing and distilling industries.
Michael is from Kirriemuir,Angus.He trained in Glasgow School of Art and now works from a studio in Portobello.He is the youngest artist ever to be elected to the RSA in Edinburgh.
To see more of Michaels work go to http://www.michaelvisocchi.com

The next Arty appearance is in the Carronvale homes development in Alloa`s grange road/Glasshouse loan.
Sandor Dobany is an internationally acclaimed Hungarian porcelain artist.
He is currently "in residence" in the ceramics dept of Glasgow School of Art.
He has created 2 roundels which have been incorporated into the facades of houses within the development.3 more roundels were created by his students to stand alongside his own.
These works are now in place.I believe this is the first time that 5 such individual artworks have been sited in this way.There is only one viewpoint where all five roundels can be seen at once.
I have not had time or opportunity to go see them yet.I saw them as a "work in progress"but have not seen them in place.
If you have seen them ,gimme your comments.
Dollarbeg FriezeSandor`s students have also created a frieze/mosaic which is now in place at the entrance to the new Dollarbeg luxury housing development.This is a beautiful piece of work,drawing from the designs ,colours and embellishments found within the old Dollarbeg mansion house.
To check out Sandor go to http://www.icshu.org/2007/dobany/design.html

I will keep you up to date on public arts in Clackmannanshire as they arise.And intend to compile an "Art Route" around our public art sites.Watch this space.....
Voodoodolly