Scotland is about to unveil another landmark giant artwork to rival the 30m high Kelpies at Falkirk and the 10m high Arria statue at Cumbernauld both by the artist Andy Scott. This time the theme is the working man and honours the Clyde shipbuilders.
In March the final pieces of the new 14 tonne stainless steel sculpture by John McKenna were brought to their final resting place in Coronation Park in Port Glasgow on the banks of the Clyde. Port Glasgow and the Clyde has been associated with ship building since the late 18th century with the famous Comet being the first commercial steam vessel in Europe built in the town in 1812.
The new Sculpture was commissioned nearly ten years ago with McKenna's design being chosen by a public vote. As the town's population continues to decline the 10m Sculpture is seen as an important regeneration project and it is hoped it will become as significant an attraction as the Kelpies has been to Falkirk.
The artist John McKenna has an impressive CV of work around the U.K. and with his working home at the A4A Art studio workshop in Turnberry, near Girvan, Ayrshire, he has already contributed significantly to the Scottish Sculpture scene with his Jock Stein and Billy McNeill statues at the Celtic FC Park Head stadium and the Auchengeich mining memorial, at Moodiesburn in North Lanarkshire.
With the dual sculpture of the 2 shipwrights wielding their riveting hammers in unison now in place it remains just for the accessing of the site and the all important lighting to be installed before the official unveiling takes place in the late summer.
Further Reading & Related Links:
https://discoverinverclyde.com/