After the demolition of Lennox Castle Hospital concrete blocks were installed to deter unwelcome visitors to the site.
For the residents of Netherton Oval/ Hill their only entrance/ exit took on an appearance akin to the Berlin wall, dull grey and boring.
One autumn morning last year i thought about how a negative could be turned into a positive by decorating the blocks. I contacted the council who put me in touch with Lynn Maher at Kilmardinny Arts Centre. She was very receptive to the idea and came to see me and view the site. We discussed many ideas and disagreed on not a few. Sparks flew on occasion but the discussions were healthy and without rancour. We decided that the project should be open to all and particularly children and young folk to encourage them to express their views in art form.
Mctaggart & Mickel agreed to provide the materials for the project and the rest of the funding was provided by East Dunbartonshire Council; we were moving.
Late spring 2004 and lynn organised a design session in Haughead Hall using visual aids and design materials provided within one of three themes: local; environmental and abstract.
Over five weekends in summer the blocks were painted by volunteers and what a success it has been! A riot of colour and talent, we even have a speed camera!
This project has shown what can be done at minimum cost to transform a drab featureless landscape into an uplifting and ever changing stream of beauty and expression. All it took was ideas, imagination, tenacity and a hard neck.
With heartfelt thanks to all who made this possible, they are listed below.
Regards
Finlay Dow