Twinning Sculptures

I have been commissioned to create nine sculptures for nine parks in Glasgow as part of the 2014 Commonwealth Legacy. Each park is twinned with a commonwealth region and the theme for each sculpture will be of the region of the park that it will be sited. Part of each of the commissions will be two workshops with a school that is associated with each park and region to create designs that will be incorporated into the sculpture or create stepping stones around the sculpture. Workshop one will be the design process and in workshop two the pupils will carve their designs into plaster plaques.

I am based in The Water Driven Sawmill in Pollok Country Park. The sculptures will be created there and everyone can visit to see the process of their creation as the doors are usually open for the public

Auchinlea Park – Africa – African Mask Bench

The sculpture is 3.8m in diameter, the seats and seat backs were attached with mortise and tenon joint with oak pegs. The pillars joining the seats were carved into traditional African masks and sculpture

The first workshop took place at Aultmore Park Primary School and focussed upon the designs to be created for the 6 backs of the seat, to include one of the legacy logo and of the Hamilton crest. To provide a balance, it was decided that a map of Africa would be carved on a third back. The pupils selected African Animals to be carved onto the remaining three backs.

The pupils worked in groups to select 2 Adinkra symbols that best described the main carvings of the 6 bench backs: the legacy logo; the map of Africa; the Hamilton crest and the selected African animals. Adinkra symbols are traditionally used to express various themes relating to the history, beliefs and philosophy of the Asante people in African art.

In the second workshop the pupils from the previous workshop came to Provenhall house to carve their designs of Adinkra symbols and African animals into plaster plaques which they took back to the school.

St Monica’s Primary P4/5 – Pollok Country Park - Africa - African Elephant

The pupils from St Monica’s Primary School created and carved in plaster Endangered African animals and Adinkra symbols. A latex mould was then taken of their animals and symbols and reproduced in the form of concrete Elephant footprints. The Adinkra symbols were chosen because the school is twinned with Ghana, where the symbols originate from. The symbols express various themes that relate to the history, beliefs and philosophy of the Asante. They mostly have rich proverbial meaning since proverbs play an important role in the Asante culture. The use of Proverbs is considered as a mark of wisdom. Other Adinkra symbols depict historical events, human behaviour and attitudes, animal behaviour, plant life forms and shapes of objects. In fact, the Adinkra symbols continue to change as new influences impact on Ghanaian culture as some of the symbols now record specific technological developments.

Pirie Park Primary P5B 29 pupils - Bellahouston Park - Europe - Mackintosh Themed Stylised Roses

The rose sculpture will consist of 5 mackintosh themed stylised roses representing the traditional European Species of Old Garden Rose climbing upwards and will be 3.8m high

The first workshop with the local school which is twinned with Europe will consist of the pupils designing there own mackintosh rose , in the second workshop the pupils will carve there mackintosh rose in relief in plaster , a mould will be taken from the plaster carvings and used to create rose shaped stepping stones round the sculpture

Langside Primary P6 33 pupils - Queens Park – Asia - Giant Panda 26 Nov 2013

The Giant Panda Sculpture will depict a panda lying sleeping in a fork of a tree and will be life size

The workshop with the local school which is twinned with Asia will consist of discovering and carving in relief other species of wildlife that are endangered the wildlife chosen will then be carved into the trunk that the Giant Panda is lying on

Notre Dame Primary (TBC) - Botanic Gardens – Oceania - Tiki sculpture 17 Jan 2014

The Tiki sculpture will be a 3.8m high representation of Lono god of peace and cultivated plants the base will be decorated with key patterns and spirals native to Oceania relief carving designed in workshops at a school local to the park and twinned with Oceania the pupils will also carve the patterns they create in plaster.

Balornock Primary - Springburn Park – Asia - Snow leopard 10 feb 2014

The Snow leopard sculpture will be twice life size and depicted crouched on a steep rock or tree trunk ready to pounce on its prey a stepping stone path to be created leading to the rock, the stepping stones in the shape of snow leopard footprints will have the animals on which the snow leopard needs to sustain itself caved in relief

Workshops will be run in a school local to the park and twinned with Asia to determine which animals are suitable for the stepping stones. The pupils will then carve their selection on plaster. I will then take a rubber mould of the plaster carving and use it to create the stepping stones in white concrete

(TBC) - Glasgow Green – The Americas- Native American Bench 10 mar 2014

Native American myths include all the types found worldwide, such as stories of creation, and of heroic journeys. However, they are particularly rich in ‘trickster’ myths. A notable example is the Coyote. The trickster is an ambiguous figure who demonstrates the qualities of early human development (both cultural and psychological) that make civilization possible, and yet which cause problems. He is an expression of the least developed stage of life, which is dominated by physical appetites.

An owl and an eagle will be on opposite side of the bench there wings forming the backs of the seats on either side of them Wildlife content may change depending on timber available

Buffalo - Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude.
Coyote - Trickster, intelligence, stealth, wisdom and folley, guile and innocence
Badger - Courage, aggressive, healer, having problems relating to others, and energy conduit
Beaver - Determined, strong-willed, builder, overseer, and protector
Eagle - Divine spirit, sacrifice, connection to creator, intelligence, renewal, courage, illumination of spirit, healing, creation, freedom, and risk-taker
Owl - Deception, clairvoyance, insight, messenger,

The workshops with the local school which is twinned with the Americas will consist of creating native american artforms for carving in plaster the pupils designs will be used to create a path round the Bench

Castleton Primary (TBC) - Linn Park – Caribbean – Palm Tree 7 April 2014

The Palm Tree sculpture will be 4m high the workshop with the local school which is twinned with the Caribbean will consist of discovering and carving in relief the wildlife of the Caribbean, a mould will be taken of the carvings and a stepping stone path will be created round the sculpture.

St Paul’s (Whiteinch) Primary (TBC) - Victoria Park – Caribbean - Lycopod 5 May 2014

The lycopod sculpture will be 4m high the distinctive bark to be carved over the entire trunk. The legacy logo and life forms from the Lower Carboniferous period to be carved on the trunk.

The workshops with the local school which is twinned with the Caribbean will consist of discovering and carving in relief in plaster life forms from the Lower Carboniferous period.

Sunnyside Primary School (TBC) – Hogganfield – Europe - Whooper Swan 3 June 2014

The sculpture of the whooper swan will be depicted landing on water, creating a bow wave into which will be carved migratory birds which visit Scotland. Workshops will be run in a school local to the park and twinned with Europe to determine which birds will be included and the pupils will carve their selection on plaster. It will be approximately twice life size with a 4.8m wingspan and a length of 3m depending on timber available

Robert Coia
Sculptor