Public Art in Lochaber There are many examples of Art in Public spaces throughout Lochaber including the recently unveiled Creag Mhor Mosaic in Nether Lochaber. This was a project instigated by Nether Lochaber Community Association with Lochaber artist Helen Michie. Helen was given an artists commission to design and make the central mosaic and to also run outdoor mosaic workshops at St Brides Primary School and in the Onich village hall for the over 60s group and wider community. The community mosaic border tiles reflect varied interests including wildlife, landscapes, sporting activities and pattern. The mosaic is situated by the A82 and the SUSTRANS National Cycle Network route and the project was funded by the ArtRoots Fund for Public Art. This fund welcomes applications from communities who are on any of the Cycle Network routes throughout Scotland. The central mosaic design shows an impression of the old Telford church that used to be on the site of the churchyard along with the
22
crofts and the Glencoe hills. Materials used to make the mosaics include cut stained glass, handmade ceramic stoneware pieces, found beach pottery, glass mosaic tiles and stones and slate collected from local beaches. The area around the mosaic and the old churchyard wall has also been repaired and developed by members of the community to create a new colourful and welcoming stopover point for walkers and cyclists. Helen has also been involved with other public art and community art projects
including creating mosaics at Glenuig Hall for the Glenuig Community Association and working on the COAST project last year at Mallaig Leisure Centre. The Creative Scotland funded COAST project looked at the effects of marine plastic pollution on the coastal environment and along with Mallaig artist Jane Rushton and in partnership with the Arisaig Eco project and Mallaig Pool and Leisure, workshops were held in the community to create collages out of the collected beach plastic litter. Helen also completed a large ceramic wall installation commission, now on site in the new extension to the leisure centre, with more than 500 round ceramic forms representing the sea and the impact of plastics on our coastline.
| july 2022
Lochaber Life July 2022.indd 22
07/06/2022 14:25:18
