ArtCycle Project 2021

[ image: Milk&Two (left) and Audrey Grant (right) ]


Artists Audrey Grant, Natalie McIlroy, Holger Mohaupt and Milk&Two have been commissioned to create new artworks as part of FVAB 2021 with installations in place during July & August.

Forth Valley Art Beat is delighted to announce its new ‘ArtCycle’ eco-art project for 2021.

‘ArtCycle’ will encompass the exploring of our outdoor local habitats and environments, bringing together the cultural creativity of the Forth Valley, with a series of temporary outdoor artworks along mapped ‘quieter’ routes, together with a series of cycling and walking events held during July/August 2021.

Details of the commissions include:

Inscriptions in Arcadia‘ (Audrey Grant) is a series of site-specific artworks situated in the beautiful and protected landscape around the Bothkennar Pools, near Skinflats. Visitors are invited to walk on easily accessible paths through this real landscape with its pine trees and lagoons, its reedbeds and fields, and imagine another – the semi-mythical land of Arcadia. You will encounter artworks created from found and made objects placed within elements of the land’s rich industrial and cultural past. Each artwork highlights the unique historical environment of the area, transformed through inscriptions from classical mythology evoking the Gods, the Underworld and the pastoral. Read more & Download Legacies of Coal Mining App audreygrant.co.uk

The Allan Blikvangers‘ (Natalie McIlroy) are a series of Blikvanger-styled artworks created for a number of locations along the NCN 765 & 76 cycle routes between Stirling and Bridge of Allan, installed until 23 July. Inspired by the artists’ own experience living in the Netherlands, the cycling capital of the world, the Blikvanger (bike path nets) comprising of large catching nets will collect cyclists’ rubbish as they pass. A common sight in the Netherlands, they are a fantastic way to ensure cyclists dispose of their rubbish whilst they are on the move. Beautiful, sculptural forms in the own right, they are handmade, playful objects that add to the enjoyment of cycling. Read more nataliemcilroy.com

The Trails are Calling‘ (Milk & Two)  are a series of artworks placed in the landscape of Canada Wood (Callendar Estate Activity Centre) visualising these two artists/graphic designers, own love of the area which they frequently use and enjoy. The artworks provide an invitation to experience the beauty and nature of the surrounding woodlands. Each artwork comprises a colourful, bold, 4 sided hand painted wooden panel structure installed in a number of points creating a circular path to be experienced either on foot or by cycling. Read more milkandtwoprint.com 

the grass is getting long‘ (Holger Mohaupt) is an artist devised cycle route that draws upon the unique knowledge of local nature, the way we interact with landscape and the ephemeral experience of cycling. The title comes a conversation the artist recently had with a local keen cyclist ‘by the way, the grass is getting long on the way to the peninsula.’ The route will follow the River Forth taking in some of the local architecture and social history. The journey will go along existing paths and at times will also go off the beaten track, with each of the two events taking the route in an opposite direction. (unsuitable for e-bikes) – taking place Sun 11th July & Sat 21st August 2pm. See full event details to book. room8.org + project blog: https://artcycle2021grass.tumblr.com

This project is devised and curated by Rosy Naylor (founder of Art Walk Projects, Edinburgh (Portobello) ) and supported by funding from the National Lottery Awards for All and Paths for All (Smarter Choices, Smarter Places fund). If you have any further questions about the project please email [email protected]