The alpacas at Gorgie Farm have been given their own sculpture as part of the Gorgie Street Art Sculpture Trail.
Visual Artist, Mike Spring, has lived in the local community for 20 years and has a studio in nearby Dalry. He has installed a series of public sculptures inspired by people and animals in Gorgie.
The trail features artwork by seven local artists that are members of the arts group Gorgie Collective who launched the project in 2021. A range of public works were created in the local area during the pandemic.
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Mike’s ‘Pieces of Gorgie’ sculptures are the newest addition to the trail, and he has installed four other new sculptures at locations on Wardlaw Terrace, White Park and LOVE Gorgie Farm on Gorgie Road. Three of the sculptures are inspired by local people the artist observed in his daily life in Gorgie and the fourth features the alpacas.
He explained the inspiration for his work by saying: “I loved having the opportunity to make work that celebrates the people getting along here, with the addition of some local wildlife like the well-loved Gorgie Farm alpacas. I’ve tried to show the outgoing, caring side of people I see in everyday life.
“Each piece goes from an observation, to drawings, then a clay figure. From these I made moulds and cast the final pieces in mortar (sand and cement) with a little cement dye.
“Ultimately the sculptures making up ‘Pieces of Gorgie’ are inspired by and my tribute to the great people of Gorgie and some of their fellow creatures. “
LOVE Gorgie Farm manager, Mark McInally, says that the new alpaca sculpture makes a great addition to the site.
He said: “We’re delighted to have this public artwork by a local artist installed at the entrance to the farm. It is yet another reason to come to Gorgie. Families can make a day of it, enjoy visiting the animals and check out the Gorgie Street Art Sculpture Trail.”
Gorgie Collective chair, Katriona Gillespie, said “Mike won our competition to design and install a new public sculpture for Gorgie. He has created not one sculpture but in fact a whole series inspired by local Gorgie characters, including the Gorgie Farm alpacas, infamously known as the Dalry Llamas!
“His artworks are beautifully observed portraits cast in concrete. We are proud to have Mike’s work on our sculpture trail, which now features work by seven different artists at multiple sites throughout Gorgie.
“Creating art in public spaces makes those spaces more stimulating and welcoming. There is a growing evidence base demonstrating the benefits of public artworks for individual mental health and wellbeing, as well as creating a sense of place.
“Making art more engaging and accessible is an important priority for our artists. Because all our sculptures are located in public spaces, they are completely accessible and can be visited at any time, so we encourage people to get down to Georgia to appreciate them first hand.”
A free map is available on Gorgie Collective’s website to help visitors and local people locate all the artworks.
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