The steel archway sculpture 'River' now has pride of place in Almondell Cemetery in East Calder, designed by award-winning public, community and environmental artist Svetlana Kondakova Muir
Consultation with the local community identified water as a peaceful theme appropriate for a cemetery, to bring a focal point for solace and reflection. Creative workshops were held with local school children from East Calder, Calderwood and St. Paul's primaries to design the water patterns that make up the form of the sculpture.
The design also incorporates natural themes such as leaves, flowers, insects and animals, with visitors able to walk under and around the archway to view all the details, with watery mosaic shapes designed by young people from the local Boy's Brigade.
The project was funded by Stirling Developments, from developer contributions they are legally required to make towards public art when building new homes in the area. By law, these developer contributions are ring-fenced for public art and the council cannot use them for any other purpose.
East Calder Community Resources Association (ECCRA) were a key part of the project and co-funded the project through the Grassroots 3 Public Art Grant award administered developer funding, with coordination by West Lothian Council's Community Arts.
Others involved included: East Calder Community Council; Calderwood Residents Association; Almondell & Calderwood Country Park; River Almond Action Group; Fr Kenneth Owens; Rev Alistair Cowper; Edinburgh Interfaith Association; Held in Our Heart West Lothian; Widowed and Young; Care for the Family; Sands charity; Boys Brigade; Scouts; and all local primary schools, Calderwood, East Calder and St. Paul's.
