Post on 14-Apr-2018
7/30/2019 MIdlothian Community Hospital Public Art Brochure
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Supported by:
For more information call 0131 229 3555
email info@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
or visit www.artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
www.facebook.com/ArtlinkEdinburgh
Find out more about the
sculptures at Midlothian
Community Hospital.
MIDLOTHIAN COMMUNITYHOSPITAL SCULPTURESArtlink
13a Spittal Street
Edinburgh
EH3 9DY
Tel: +441312293555Fax: +441312285257
Email: info@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
Website: www.artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
Charity number: SC006845
7/30/2019 MIdlothian Community Hospital Public Art Brochure
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One warm May day in 2010 I took adrive out to Pencaitland - a lovely village
not too far from here. I was looking forward
to meeting up with Malcolm Lemmon,
an experienced green oak craftsman,
who had been working with lead artist
James McLardy to cut and build a series of
interactive sculptures out of green oak that
had been sourced both locally and from the
Roslynlee Hospital grounds.
Malcolm hires a large farm storage shed
for his projects and I found him, James and
some chickens hard at work. It is always a
delight to see REAL craftsmen at work and
having a keen interest in how things are put
together I was looking to get some tips on
construction
Of course I wasnt just out there on a
whim, all this sawing, sanding and doweling
was the product of months of hard work by
James, that had seen him researching the
local area, the histories of Roslynlee and
Loanhead hospitals, and doing an awful lotof talking.
The designs that James produced were
a reection of what he had found out; local
skills, connections with the area and its
history and the input from staff and patients
can all be found back in the sculptures
which you see in the courtyards and outside
the hospital. Working in this way made
sure that the artworks could both suggest
a function whilst bringing a coherent visual
addition in the courtyards and grounds.
In talking further with James, it was clear
that a lot of thought had gone into sourcing
the right materials and approach. The oak
used in most of the sculptures is a clear link
to Roslynlee Hospital. James discovered
early on in his research that the use of
the grounds at Roslynlee had been very
important to patients and relatives and
wanted to use this as a link between the
old hospital building, and the new one that
was being built.
These connections to local history and
relationships in the area continued with the
naval brass sculptures adorning some of
the wooden structures. These are designed
by the artist Claire Barclay and machined at
MacTaggart Scott who has a long association
with Loandhead Hospital. The Mac Taggart
Scott Loanhead Brass Band has been
entertaining patients and staff at Christmas
time for an awful long time. The painted metal
gates were designed in collaboration with staff
and forged by local blacksmith James Fleming
from the Cousland Smiddy, bringing colourful
motifs of agricultural and industrial heritage
into the courtyards.
The product ofmonths of hardwork.
Connections tolocal history.
A thoughful approach fromlocal crafts people.
In June of 2011 the nal installation of a
large oak hurdle and metal archway took
place. This involved lifting and manoeuvring
large curved oak beams in place, then
drilling bolting and doweling the structure
securely in place.
I am pretty sure that you will have noticed
the sculptures and the earthen mound
as you parked your car, sat on the bus
or walked towards the hospital. These
sculptures frame an area, that it is hoped
will become a more formal garden over
time which can be enjoyed by patients and
relatives. The sculptures here also have
function; the mound and oversized hurdle
provide shelter from prevailing winds and
weather, whereas the metal arch invites you
to enter the protected area.
The thoughtful approach that James
brought to the project and the skills of
local craftspeople Malcolm and James
has created work that sits comfortably in
their surroundings and at the same time
providing a stimulating visual experience.
Jan-Bert van den Berg
Artlink Director
The project was carried out by Artlink on
behalf of NHS Lothian Capital Planning &
Projects. Artlink establishes partnerships
with artists, venues and organisations to
help transform lives.
Artlinks Director,
Jan-Bert van den Berg gives
his rst hand impressions
of James McLardys new,
interactive, green oak
sculptures at MidlothianCommunity Hospital.
Malcolm Lemmon James McLardy The installation process
Painted metal gates Courtyards Naval brass sculptures Courtyard sculptures
A link between the oldhospital, and the new one
that was being built.