Star of CaledoniaBalmond / Jencks

www.starofcaledonia.org.uk

OUR VISIONTo create a world-class Scottish landmark that will signify energy, identity and borders, and will present Scotland as a vibrant and creative country.

The GReTNa LaNdmaRk PROjeCTFollowing the 2001 Foot and mouth Crisis which devastated the area, the local community, along with project champion alasdair houston, came together with the vision for an internationally important piece of public art at Gretna. a series of workshops with the community, eminent historians and cultural thinkers, identified themes for an international design competition influenced by the heritage of “the debatable Lands”. Cecil Balmond won the design competition in 2011 and is now working in collaboration with the projects’ Creative director Charles jencks.

“Star of Caledonia represents a unique opportunity to invest in a truly world-class landmark – a public icon for Scotland; a border crossing that is theatrical and dynamic; an experience that is meaningful and moving.”

Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green Group

STaR OF CaLedONIaStar of Caledonia is a project of form and landscape, and is a fully integrated collaborative effort between Cecil Balmond and Charles jencks.

“ Crossing the border to Scotland, across the River Sark, is now a passage obscured under a bridge by cars travelling at speed. Instead of marking this with motorway signs we are using a landform and sculpture that pulls together the adjacent site, the distant hills and the Solway.

“Nestled into the curving mound and springing from it is Cecil Balmond’s whirling creation. In one sense, it is a scintillating piece of calligraphy seen against the sky which will signify various meanings as you approach it.”

Charles Jencks

Born out of an idea by Balmond to capture the powerful energy, scientific heritage and magnetic pull of Scotland, the design pays homage to Scottish innovation and particularly james Clerk maxwell, the pre-eminent Scottish physicist and mathematician.

“Star of Caledonia is a welcome; its kinetic form and light paths a constant trace of Scotland’s power of invention.”

Cecil Balmond

Power, energy, invention and the notion of ‘river of identity running deep’ (the river Sark is the border at Gretna) are clear and constant themes. By looking at the border as a series of journey crossings, back and forth, in waves that exit and enter into Scotland, Balmond has conceptualised Star of Caledonia by using movement and shape to create a sense of energy.

Star of Caledonia is not only a major opportunity to alert visitors to the moment of crossing this historic border – but also to astonish that audience with the ingenuity, beauty and audacity of Scottish creativity.

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About Creative Director, Charles JencksCharles jencks is one of the foremost international artists working in his medium. his Garden of Cosmic Speculation in Scotland is one of the most original and highly praised contemporary gardens, as is his recently completed Life mounds at jupiter artland, edinburgh. he engages with a wide range of contemporary themes from science and cosmology to war, regeneration and man’s relationship to nature.

For further information please see www.charlesjencks.com

About Cecil BalmondBalmond creates new horizons in art and design. his dynamic approach is informed by the art of geometry and the science of non-linear organisation and emergent form. Balmond runs his studio in London, a research-based practice involved with art, architecture and design. he is an honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British architects (RIBa) and a Fellow of the Royal academy of engineers.

For further information please see www.balmondstudio.com

TImeSCaLeNow is the time to secure funding for Star of Caledonia and ensure it will be completed during 2014 – a pivotal year for Scotland with the Ryder Cup, the Year of homecoming, the conclusion of the debate on independence and, of course, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

INVeSTmeNTThe Gretna Landmark Trust needs a total investment of £4.8m to turn Star of Caledonia into a reality and discussions are underway with Creative Scotland to secure a significant grant from the Capital Investment Programme for 2012 and also with a range of statutory funders, trusts and philanthropic individuals to invite their support.

We are confident that every investor will not only play a proud part in the delivery of this spectacular landmark and art destination, but also take part in a public declaration of confidence in Scotland’s identity and future.

CONTaCTWe would welcome the opportunity to speak to you about investing in Star of Caledonia and very much hope that you will seriously consider assisting us to deliver this project by 2014.

Please contact The Gretna Landmark Trust team:Dr Jan Hogarth Project director Gretna Landmark Trust mobile: 07801 232 229 email: jan@wide-open.net

Peter Thierfeldt Campaign directorGretna Landmark Trustmobile: 07736 450 219email: peter@wide-open.net

ReGIONaL aNd NaTIONaL ImPaCTGretna is the main international gateway to Scotland, situated at Scotland’s southernmost entry point. Today this border (centuries ago the lawless ‘debateable Lands’) marks a point on the road between two very different, but hugely successful and innovative countries.

Of the 60% of visitors who enter Scotland by road, 84% pass by Gretna. Star of Caledonia will be an important flagship project for the Gretna area and has the potential to be a powerful catalyst for the development of dumfries and Galloway as a national gateway to Scotland.

although there were many different arguments made for this work, it was often that of economic impact, using successful examples such as The angel of the North, which convinced dumfries and Galloway Council, Creative Scotland, Scottish enterprise dumfries and Galloway, and the Nuclear decommissioning Fund to invest in the design stage of the project.

The ‘visioning’ led to a series of gatherings which explored the cultural and economic reasons for undertaking the project, deepening dumfries and Galloway Council’s commitment and examining the regional and national need for a public landmark at Gretna.

“a border offers identity but one that is enriched by neighbours, so that it’s not so much a line of separation as a local set of interconnected values.”

Cecil Balmond

a GaLaxY OF STaRSGalloway is the first place in the Uk to get dark Skies Park status – one of the best places in the world to view the stars due to low light pollution – and Star of Caledonia has been likened to a galaxy which highlights the region’s dark Skies Park designation and encourages visitors to turn west at Gretna.

“as an opportunity for a country to herald its border, this is remarkable. The Star is a timeless work, which for 365 days a year will be a bold and confident statement of Scotland’s innovation and energy. Please join us in our vision, and play your part in helping to make it happen.”

Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green Group

“ The star is magical and looks like the galaxy.” Feedback from a Gretna school pupil during community consultation

SPONSORS aNd TRUSTeeSThe project is being developed by The Gretna Landmark Trust, made up of local project stakeholders, and is being managed by Wide Open, a public and environmental art organisation for the south of Scotland.

Our generous investors: Creative Scotland dumfries and Galloway Council alasdair houston of the Gretna Green Group Nuclear decommissioning authority Scottish enterprise dumfries and Galloway

Our trustees: alasdair houston mBe dL (Chair) Leslie jardine LLB alexander Thomson Silvy Weatherall

“ CeCIL BaLmONd aNd ChaRLeS jeNCkS’ OUTLINe PROPOSaL WILL COmBINe aRTISTIC VISION aNd eNGINeeRING TO PROdUCe a LaNdmaRk ThaT IS ROOTed IN SCOTLaNd’S SCIeNTIFIC CONTRIBUTION TO The WORLd. The PROjeCT WILL PROVIde mILLIONS OF FUTURe VISITORS W I T h a N I C O N I C W e L C O m e a N d a N eVeR ChaNGING CONTemPORaRY SYmBOL OF a CONFIdeNT, CReaTIVe SCOTLaNd.” Andrew Dixon, selection panelist and Chief Executive of Creative Scotland

Please contact The Gretna Landmark Trust team:Dr Jan Hogarth Project Director Gretna Landmark Trust Mobile: 07801 232 229 Email: jan@wide-open.net

Peter Thierfeldt Campaign DirectorGretna Landmark TrustMobile: 07736 450 219Email: peter@wide-open.net

The Gretna Landmark Trust is recognised by the Inland Revenue as a charity registered in Scotland No SC041910

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