THE NORTH CARRICK COMMUNITIES ARTS TRAIL

Celebrating Robert The Bruce

Gill Sherry

When North Carrick Community Benefit Company (NCCBC) invited bids for a series of sculptures to celebrate the 750th anniversary of Robert the Bruce’s birth, Girvan-based CRAG Community Arts SCIO didn’t hesitate to apply.

“Being local, we thought we’d go for it,” says CRAG artist, David Powell. “We’d been working in these communities over the last 20 years, so we applied and won the application.”

David is heavily involved in both the Festival of Light and Strandline, two annual events in Girvan that promote community involvement. So, the opportunity to work with South Ayrshire communities on a local history project was too good to miss.

The project involved the creation of eight Bruce 750-themed sculptures with augmented reality content, from Turnberry in the south, to Dunure in the north, and east to Straiton.

Having won the bid, CRAG led an intensive project working with six primary schools: Crosshill, Dunure, Kirkmichael, Maidens, Minishant and Straiton. Pupils from Carrick Academy and Queen Margaret Academy were also involved through Dunure Youth Club. In total, 172 children took part.

“We decided to go through the primary schools rather than public engagement as the children themselves were actually the ones who would inherit the project, the brief being that the sculptures had to last for 25 years.”

The students were asked to come up with ideas not just relating to Robert the Bruce but also the area of the installation. Drawings were then made into 3D models using clay and wire which simulated the idea for the sculptures.

“It was wonderful,” David tells me. “The creative outpouring was just fantastic.”

The ideas and models were then taken to the local communities for a consultation process, allowing residents to decide which design they preferred. As a result, you will now find a cow in Crosshill, a horse in Minishant, and a spider in Kirkmichael (to give you just three examples).

“The spider is a lovely piece of work,” David beams. “It just makes me smile.”

As well as being able to appreciate the artwork itself, the trail allows you to learn more about the history of Robert the Bruce and each specific site. By scanning the QR code beside each sculpture, you can take advantage of augmented reality. To do so, however, you must first download the Bruce’s Web app.

“It’s all bells and whistles. You learn more through animation, music and spoken word.”

The AR and app were designed and developed by Ross Graham but, for those who prefer the old-fashioned method of learning, look out for the relevant brochures and posters.

“The idea is to attract tourism as well and to encourage people to explore Carrick… to actually travel from sculpture to sculpture and appreciate the whole site.”

The app links to NCCBC’s tourism site which gives information about things like local events and artists, and there are business incentives and discount codes to use in various shops. There is also a game, allowing you to collect codes and receive badges, making it even more appealing to kids.

“The whole project was trying to look at what existed in the area in the 13th and 14th centuries,” David explains, returning to the subject of design. “Crosshill didn’t come into existence until the 18th century so you have to ask, what would have been there before? It would have been farmland…”

Hence the cow.

“When we looked at Straiton, we knew it was the path to Glentrool and, of course, the big battle at Glentrool. So, the kids produced things like axes, swords and shields.”

Two galvanised steel axes now grace that particular site.

The preferred choice for Maidens began as a rowing boat, as David confirms: “The idea that Bruce came across from Arran… he would have been in a boat, but not a rowing boat. It would possibly have been a Birlinn, a historical vessel based on a Viking ship. So we took the ship’s prow and used that.”

It’s clear that an awful lot of thought went into the project. When it came to Bruce’s birthplace, for example, the new sculpture would be installed some distance away from what remains of Turnberry Castle.

“What could we do with Turnbery Castle? You can’t see it from the car park so… one of the girls did a lovely wirework model of just a gate. It was based on an illustration of the old sea gate that faced towards the coast.”

The gate sculpture can now be seen close to the A719 at Turnberry, beside Lodge Road. And, by scanning the QR code, you can see the castle brought to life in 3D.

“The fishing side of things came from Fisherton near Dunure,” David goes on, “and the idea of what Bruce would’ve caught. That sculpture, of drying fish, was based on a design by a local laddie.”

There’s also an interesting story behind the horse sculpture which is now in situ in Minishant.

“The horse collapsed. As the clay dried out it slumped, but I actually used that position for the sculpture. It’s almost bowing down. And it has a bit of an Art Deco feel to it.”

The Kirkoswald installation is based on Bruce’s baptism at Kirkoswald Church, but rather than using the baptism font, the artwork depicts the water drops from the priest’s hands.

“Some of the pieces are really figurative and realist and others are more abstract so people will be scratching their heads and asking what they are. The whole point is that the augmented reality will bring it to life. From Kirkoswald, you’ll see three shimmering water drops and then you’ll see the priest in the background standing with the baby.”

In addition to the obvious challenge of coming up with the designs, David also had to make changes to his usual way of working.

“As an artist, I’m very much used to making everything myself and not letting anyone else do anything, so I had to step back. But it’s nice, it’s been a good process in terms of engaging local craftsmen.”

The steel sculptures, for example, were fabricated by Jamieson Welding Co in Girvan, and Maidens-based Morrell’s Forge was involved in the welding process. Moving from willow (David’s usual material of choice) into something that would last for 25 years was also a challenge, but one he overcame with pleasure. And hearing the positive response to the sculptures has been really satisfying.

For those wondering about the ninth sculpture, this has yet to be erected in Maybole and is the result of a separate commission. Turnberry-based sculptor, John McKenna, the artist responsible for The Ship Builders in Port Glasgow, was asked to design and build this particular piece of art. It does, however, form part of Bruce’s Trail.

“They’re all place markers as well,” David concludes, “which is really good. It gets people talking.”
For more information visit www.nccbc.org.uk/north-carrick-communities-arts-trail. Or, better still, download the Bruce’s Web app and follow the trail!