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Stones of Scotland

Is a collaboration between George Wylie, Kenny Munro and LesleyMay Miller.

It was inaugurated in November 2002 as a commemoration of the re-establishment

of the Scottish Parliament. I like to think of it as an alternative gathering place.

In a steel circle overlooking the Parliament in Regent Road Park, Edinburgh. Also looking towards the sea in the east and the world. The circle consists of 32 large boulders.

In a series of creative journeys and interesting meetings we gathered these stones from all the local authority regions, to represent the geology of Scotland.

There is a carefully chosen Scots pine within the circle.

A more detailed description can be found in ‘Public Sculpture of Scotland’ by Ray McKenzie, volume 2 page 396.

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George came to Lochaber to help the political and community campaign to save the West Highland Sleeper when the London – Fort William service was under the axe in 1995.  He designed and built the sizeable ‘Black 4’ locomotive shown careering into Loch Linnhe to publicise the threat to the service.  It was built at the West End Car Park in Fort William in a couple of days using timber and heavy plastic belting that had become redundant from snow fences on the A82 over Rannoch Moor.  I was Divisional Road Engineer at the time and it was great fun working with George!

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In 1987, Wyllie attracted international attention with his Straw Locomotive, a 78ft locomotive constructed from steel, straw and chicken wire, which hung from the Finnieston crane in Glasgow before being burned in nearby Springburn in a Viking style funeral.

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Location: Glasgow

Type: sculpture, installation, performance

Technique: hand-built

Material: RSJ steel girder, steel mesh frame, 2.5 tonnes long length golden feeding straw, steel question mark.

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Location: Glasgow Type: sculpture, installation, performance Technique: hand-built Material: RSJ steel girder, steel mesh frame, 2.5 tonnes long length golden feeding straw, steel question mark.

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"A sculpture celebrating the strong historic links between Caithness and Norse countries was officially unveiled recently, as part of the Northlands Festival. Scottish sculptor and artist George Wylie was commissioned to design and build the stone and steel creation, which represents a Viking longship. It is sited on a piece of waste ground at Burnside, just off the northernmost stretch of the A9 trunk road between Thurso and Scrabster. The 5ft high sculpture, called the Northland Vent, features a triangular opening which affords views out across the Pentland Firth. Its unveiling came at the end of a day which explored Thurso's Viking heritage. After the bus party arrived at the new roadside landmark, 17 year old Swedish piper Jesper Wegge-Lindh played several tunes before Mr Wylie spoke on the background to his latest work. He said he hopped the sculpture would encourage the local authority to improve the look of the historic area, which is close to the remains of the Bishop's Palace. Mr Wylie said he used traditional Caithness flagstone to celebrate the past and modern stainless steel to look forward to a regeneration of the area." - http://www.thefrasers.com/nessie/news/nesspapr120101.html

Thanks to Ian Leith, The Wick Society for the photo.

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Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, UK

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Puffer sculpture at the rear of Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow

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Palm Tree Post Box at Lochganvich on the A858, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides.

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Palm Tree Post Box at Lochganvich on the A858, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides.

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Graeme

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Buchanan Street Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow, UK

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I met my fiancée Linda on our first date seven and three quarter years ago at the Running Clock, a memorable day indeed and every time we park in the Buchanan Galleries we always smile at the clock when we drive by it.

Derek.

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McLean Museum & Art Gallery, Kelly Street, Greenock, UK

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CAGED PEACOCK at the McLean Museum, Greenock. 

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CAGED PEACOCK at the McLean Museum, Greenock. 

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Arggggh!

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NORTHERN QUARTER,  MANCHESTER

George was commissioned to make a sculpture for the  then up and coming Northern Quarter in the 1980s. Laim Curtin who owned Majollica Works in the area was a ceramic artist and potter and instrumental in the development of the Northern quarter together with a lot of independent business which operated and flourished in the then exciting emergence of this area of regeneration in Manchester's City Centre. The sculpture symbolised a clean sweep of the area presenting new and exciting opportunities for innovative and entrepreneurial business. Liam curtim also made ceramic tiles and words for the area set into pavements and walls.

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LIFE CYCLE, Deansgate Station, Manchester.

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LIFE CYCLE, Deansgate Station, Manchester.

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This is one of Manchester's biggest contemporary sculpture and was made by George in 2004 as part the international Global Forum event. Global Forum '94 on Cities and Sustainable Development was held in Manchester, UK, from 24 June - 3 July 1994. Cross-sectoral delegations from 50 cities were  brought together to forge practical action plans for sustainably managing and developing urban areas across the globe. The education and arts programme, in particular, operated under the title of Cycle of Life. There were many events which involved  Manchester schools . Manchester City Council wanted the sculpture made out of Manchester stainless steel which proved to be difficult for George trying to source it and in the end he was slightly short of steel for the equilibrium spire on the back which frustrated him. This is a picture, I was sent, of Maria and Mathew Henderson who used to work  in Manchester in those days and now retired are taking a tour of Manchester to show their two grandchildren Annabel and Ewen, what a great city Manchester is!

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Temple 2000 sited in Hulme Park, Manchester, site old the Rolls Royce factory.

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Temple 2000 sited in Hulme Park, Manchester, site old the Rolls Royce factory.

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As part of the Millennium celebrations in Manchester, George did a series of workshops with older people - especially the pensioners from Hulme, where the original Rolls Royce Factory had been based.  Following the workshops, George made a sculpture of the iconic RR radiator in stainless steel called ‘Temple’.  The idea was always for it to be placed in Hulme Park, but there were various delays, and in the meantime, the sculpture went missing!  George didn't know it had been misplaced and kept asking his daughter when it was going to be installed.  I came into the story when I was doing some work for the City Council sometime later.  I know George's daughter, Louise, and she asked me to try and find out what had happened to the sculpture.  I said - without much hope - that I'd put some 'feelers' out.  The very next day, I went to a meeting at an office in a park in a different part of the city. Somewhere I've never been before or since.   It was summer and the offices had just been decorated.  There, propping open a door to let the paint dry was 'Temple', a little splashed with paint as the decorators had stood on it to paint over the door, but not too worse for wear.  What are the chances of that?  A member of the Culture Team was enlisted to help and did a marvellous job of getting Temple cleaned.  She arranged a big celebration event with the Valuing Older People group in Hulme Park and George proudly came down to see his work installed.  It’s there to this day.  I don't think George ever knew the full story, but maybe he would have enjoyed the chance conversation that led to such a happy ending!

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Lecht Ski Centre, Cock Bridge, Strathdon, UK

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In 2007 , when out of ski season, the Lecht Ski Centre offered three exhibitions , workshops and some other activities tied into the Highland 2007 event.  ‘Let there be Lecht’. was held at the Lecht on the Autumnal Equinox and included the erection of a sculpture named Cosmic Reach’ made  by artist George Wyllie.

The whole project culminated at the Lecht with attendees from six local schools who had been involved in the art of making workshops run by Shane Connolly. Each school made giant illuminated structures in the form of local fauna, such as osprey, deer, hare, salmon, and individual smaller pieces like rivers and flora. These were paraded up at the Lecht and the sculpture was unveiled for the first time with George being present. I gave him a fun ride on a quad bike round the base of the hill but I was also involved in the installation of the sculpture in the weeks prior to the event.

Below is the wording on the sign  made for the sculpture.

"The aspirational aspect of the work is to focus human attention on a space beyond ourselves. The height of the Lecht and the nature of the materials that form it are ideal for defining a ‘launch pad’ for ideas projected beyond earthbound constrictions. It helps humanity to break free from these and aspire to enlightened ideas that lie beyond."

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Hattersley Stag, Hattersley, Hyde, UK, 1972

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Hattersley Stag, Hattersley, Hyde, UK, 1972

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The Straw Locomotive, Finnieston Crane, Glasgow, UK, 1987

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The Straw Locomotive, Finnieston Crane, Glasgow, UK, 1987

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The Paper Boat at the Finnieston Crane, Glasgow, UK, 1989

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The Paper Boat at the Finnieston Crane, Glasgow, UK, 1989

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Buchanan Street Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow, UK

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The Running Clock. Buchanan Street Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow, UK

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The Running Clock. Buchanan Street Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow, UK

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Also known as the Clyde clock.

In the news:
https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/offbeat/clyde-clock-glasgows-famous-sculpture-ran-time-74211

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Alec Galloway.                          A fresh coat of paint

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Alec Galloway.                          A fresh coat of paint

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This is a picture of myself(Alec Galloway) barefoot on some step-ladders giving one of my tidal question marks a new lick of paint ,whilst the tide was out! I was assisted that day by Jan Patience, and Martin Shields popped down to get a few images not realising the mud was deep and would ruin his shoes! The pieces were commissioned to celebrate George's amazing life and career and became a lovely feature along the river at Langbank, where they could be spotted from the car or train. In the spirit of -All things must pass, the works were gradually eroded away by the weather and eventually succumbed to the ravages of the river . I like to think that by reclaiming them ,the river has retained the spirit of George deep in that squidgy mud!

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The Monarch of Auchmountain Glen in Kilmacolm Road, Greenock stands tall and proud and was a bit bemused at being used as a climbing frame during a RIG Arts community consultation event to design an archway for the Auchmountain Glen in June 2020.

George created this powerful piece of public art made from a steel girder acknowledging the areas industrial heritage and the wildlife attracted to the Glen in 2000 for Cloch Housing Association. The 10 foot stag also represents the great pride people have in their area and is a much loved public artwork that resonates with locals.

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The Strone and Maukinhill, Greenock (home of George’s Monarch of the Auchmountain Glen sculpture) has a special place in my heart as I lived there until I was 10.

The Auchmountain Glen is a hidden gem and the Auchmountain Glen Project volunteers have done a truly amazing job of restoring  its pathways and bridges and in bringing people together.  I have memories of working in the Glen with my mum and neighbours in the 1970’s, tidying it up and spending many a summers day waking up to the Bee’s dam where they said a whrlpool existed that could sook you away to another world! The Auchmountain Glen is a magical place!

I was delighted to be an integral part of the Auchmountain Glen Project and RIG Arts  plan to design and create an entrance feature for the Auchmountain Glen. The new archway builds on the legacy of the original entrance archway that was made by shipbuilders from Scott Lithgow, Greenock in the 70’s. With mosaic designs depicting the Auchmountain bell, wildlife and the seasons the new feature sits well next to my favourite Inverclyde sculpture, George Willie’s Monarch of Auchmountain Glen.

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The Wally Dugs - GoMa Library, Glasgow, UK

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The Wally Dugs - GoMa Library, Glasgow, UK

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The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, UK

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The Wally Dugs at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, UK

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The Wally Dugs at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, UK

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The City As A Living Room : The Wally Dugs, Glasgow Jan 1994

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The City As A Living Room : The Wally Dugs, Glasgow Jan 1994

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George led a workshop at the Strathclyde Architecture Winterschool in the first week in January 1994.

I worked with George, his son-in-law Campbell and a wee group of architecture students to build two 15 ft Wally Dugs. They lit up (courtesy of fluorescent strip lights run off a generator). The white, backlit fabric was off cuts from the Paper Boat. The 'chain' was Daphne's old garden hose.

We took the Dugs around central Glasgow on a trailer - starting off at Stirling's Library (now GoMA) then the following day at the Royal Concert Hall at the top of Buchanan Street, St Enoch Square at the bottom of Buchanan Street and on George Square in front of the City Chambers.

The idea was to play with scale by super-sizing two domestic ornaments to frame familiar urban spaces and landmarks to claim them as part of everyone's 'Living Room'.

It was a great and formative experience and the start of a long friendship and memorable series of collaborations with George.

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The City As A Living Room : The Wally Dugs, Glasgow Jan 1994 - St Enoch Square, Glasgow, UK

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The City As A Living Room : The Wally Dugs, Glasgow Jan 1994 - St Enoch Square, Glasgow, UK

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McLean Museum & Art Gallery, Kelly Street, Greenock, UK

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George’s Caged Peacock can be found in the gardens of the McLean Museum and Art Galleries in the west end of Greenock.
Since my church St John’s Episcopal overlooks the museum, I am able to see the big burd every Sunday.
The scul?ture has been there since 2006 and I am still finding  new shapes in the bird  and colours in the stained glass features.
If you are ever “doon the watter” take a walk around the grounds of the Watt Institution and see the finest burd in Greenock.

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Lots of people are familiar with George Wyllie's Monument to Maternity – a giant safety pin – at Rottenrow, on the site of Glasgow's famous old maternity hospital. The safety pin is part of Strathclyde University's estate and so is this George Wyllie spire, which I came across in 2019 when I dropped my son off for the first time at his university halls of residence. I couldn't believe that I'd never heard of it before (by this stage I'd co-written a book about George with his daughter Louise). The fact that it was outside my son's bedroom seemed like a very strange co-incidence. George described his spires – a constant in his work – as being: "Just the balance of nature, the air, the stone and the equilibrium, we being the manipulators of that equilibrium." As one of George's old friends pointed out, when I posted it on Twitter, the ballast has been chained. Probably a health and safety measure. George would be part-horrified, part-amused!

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Monument to Maternity, Strathclyde University

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Monument to Maternity, Strathclyde University

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As I mentioned in another post, George's Monument to Maternity on the site of the old Rottenrow Maternity Hospital in Glasgow, is a well kent Glasgow landmark. George originally designed it for Mayfest, the annual Glasgow arts festival in Glasgow which ran from 1983 to 1997. The 21-foot high, stainless steel pin was constructed at the Greenock Welding Company to George's specifications, and erected at Glasgow Cross, where it was unveiled on 2 May 1996 to mark the beginning of that year’s festival. George named the sculpture Just in Case, stating that ‘you never know when the human, civic or global elastic will burst … anywhere … any time … so, always have [a safety pin] …”Just in Case”.’

When Mayfest 1996 drew to a close, the pin was removed from Glasgow Cross and displayed in various other locations around the country: outside the Guildhall in Portsmouth; in Edinburgh, to coincide with a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government; and back in Glasgow, this time in Buchanan Street. It was even exhibited in New York. Having failed to find a buyer for the sculpture, George  sent  it to storage, until he received an approach from the University of Strathclyde. The University had acquired the former Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital building - known as ‘the Rottenrow’ - in 2001 and planned to create a garden space on the site. It was felt  a sculpture would be appropriate. Laura Hamilton, Curator of the University’s Collins Gallery, who had worked with and exhibited George's work for years, remembered his sculpture for Mayfest, and suggested that, since safety pins were popularly associated with fastening babies’ nappies, his giant pin would be a fitting memorial to the former maternity hospital. George, who held his first ever solo exhibition at the Collins Gallery in 1976, agreed. Poignantly his last solo exhibition during his lifetime was also held at the Collins Gallery in early 2012. (George died in May that year.)
Part of George's archive is held by the University. He had a long association with the university,  going back to when he attended night-classes there as a young man in the late 1930s/early 40s, when it was the Royal Technical College.

Rottenrow Gardens came into use in October 2003, and, as part of the celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the University’s Royal Charter, were formally opened by the Lord Provost of Glasgow on 25 June 2004. The safety pin, complete with one of Wyllie’s trademark birds perched on top to symbolise aspiration, remains one of the most eye-catching landmarks on campus.
It was recently announced that Monument to Maternity Strathclyde University's Heart of the Campus project. The safety pin will be repositioned, but don't worry, it won't be going far.

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The George Wyllie Memorial Garden