I’m completing the first stage of my role as lead artist for a public art programme at Midlothian Community Hospital – a new NHS psychiatric care hospital near Dalkeith. The resultant sculptures have been realised in conjunction with local craftpersons Malcolm Lemmon, James Fleming and members of the local community. We have installed a number of sculptural interventions within the courtyards which are made using storm damaged oak trees felled from a nearby hospital due for closure. These sculptures sit along side a series of machined metal sculptures created in collaboration with a local engineering company MacTaggert Scott and artist Claire Barclay.
Stage two is due to commence in Spring 2011 and will hopefully see the development of a community led garden, archways and earthworks within the surrounding hospital grounds.
Artist consultants, Artlink
