New community co-designed artworks installed along the River Almond

As part of the final year of the RiverLife: Almond & Avon project (2016-2021) we finally installed the 3 brass rubbing plates and interpretation boards along the Almond in Livingston. Delayed by the pandemic these works were due to be installed in spring, but lockdown in combination with a spate of  vandalism over the summer delayed things further.

The art project is aimed at encouraging local residents to engage with its environment and wildlife has introduced three “brass rubbing plates.”. Called “Riverlife: Three sites on the Almond” see’s three brass panels form a trail along the river Almond in Livingston, starting from Kirkton to Craigshill.

Starting at  Kirkton the first brass rubbing is situated upstream along the path from Almond Valley Visitor Centre, at the end of the train line. From there at  Howden: the second can be found along the footpath downstream of the old bridge at Almondvale park, next to the blue viewing platform. Finally walkers will come to Craigshill where the rubbing is located along the path downstream of Almond Park, near to the footbridge at the Rugby Club.

These are based on drawings created by several of the workshop participants, including amateur artists and other residents who had not drawn anything for years. The project used a very old form of photography – Cyanotypes – to develop participants’  original drawings.

Morvern, one of the artists involved, explained: “We wanted to provide an opportunity for people to join us in the artists’ process – from the very beginning of research, all the way through to a completed piece. No part of this artwork came only from us, it was a truly collaborative process. We began with guided walks along the river, where we could combine speaking with people with the very first sketches and visual explorations. It was during these walks where we began to see what passion and ownership local people have for the River Almond.”

Why not head out to find the artwork and create your own rubbings over the Christmas period.