Rebuilding the Community Brick by Brick: The Ruchazie - Hogganfield Gateway Commission is a project that has been developed by Growing 21 and Seven Lochs Wetland Park. Following an open call, we are delighted to share the news that artist Kevin Andrew Morris has been selected to work with the team at Growing 21 and the local community to create an artwork that will be placed at the entrance from Ruchazie that leads to Hogganfield Loch Nature Reserve.
The commission aims to celebrate the rich industrial history of Ruchzie, in particular the production of bricks at Gartcraig Coal & Fireclay Co Ltd (1872 – c. 1951). The brickworks was located in the area, producing bricks that were shipped around the world, used in building projects in Canada and America to Australia and India. It also produced enamelled tiles and decorative vases.
Initially undertaking Three Dimensional Design at Grays School of Art, Kevin went on to graduate with BA (Hons) in Ceramic Design in 2010 from The Glasgow School of Art and has since worked with a range of artists, organisations and public art projects and exhibited nationally and internationally. His recent work has led to him exploring his family heritage and material, engaging with craft, material, and place that has led to him making narrative work that considers traditional and contemporary practice as well our collective connections to heritage and tradition, through ceramic slip casting, atmospheric firing and print.
Kevin will bring his enthusiasm and interest in heritage and materials to the project in Ruchazie, exploring themes around personal heritage, materialsa and making. Kevin will work with local residents of all ages in Ruchazie to explore the history, to generate creative ideas and share ceramic techniques that will lead to the final artwork.
Keep up to date with news of the project by following everyone involved in the project: @sevenlochs @thegrowing21 @andrewkevinmorris and @platformglasgow
Rebuilding the Community Brick by Brick: The Ruchazie - Hogganfield Gateway is a project led by Growing 21, developed and supported by Seven Lochs Wetland Parkin association with Platform
Growing 21, a new Development Trust, located in Ruchazie, is a community organisation created to enable sustainable development in the community. It undertakes a mixture of economic, environmental and social initiatives.
Seven Lochs Wetland Park is an emerging heritage and nature park between Glasgow and North Lanarkshire which aims to deliver, manage and sustain a high quality innovative wetland environment that will celebrate, protect and enhance the history, heritage and biodiversity of the area, promote the general health and wellbeing of both visitors and residents alike, and have a major impact on the environmental, social and economic regeneration of the area.
