Target reached!
George liked to think big! And, this project has the potential to be huge. With addi...
Mapping Memories - The George Wyllie Art Trail
Ardeonaig, Scotland, United Kingdom
Aim
Help create a freely-accessible digital map of George Wyllie’s artworks to coincide with his centenary year in 2021
"The nature of my art has meant being in public spaces and being beyond the gallery - schools, clubs, colleges, societies, universities, media, theatre, journeying at home, abroad, in raz-a-ma-taz places and in quiet places; roving ranting raving and interpolating." - George Wyllie
When George began his career as an artist at the age of 52, when most people are contemplating retirement, he became enormously prolific.
His ‘out and about’ approach to art took him across Scotland and beyond. Even today people frequently contact us with stories of works we don’t know about.
There are hundreds of sculptures, installations and artworks that could feature on this art trail and we expect, with the help of the public, to find many more.
Your donation will help us undertake the huge challenge of investigating, mapping and publishing an extensive catalogue of information - ensuring George's work won't be lost to history.
A Legacy List
In 2011 George’s family created a ‘wish list’ of things they could do to secure the artist’s legacy and ensure his work is available to future generations.
With a lot of sweat and some tears, we’ve humphed George’s incredibly heavy sculptures to galleries and museums across Scotland and steadily ticked items off the family’s legacy list.
2021 is the centenary year of the artist’s birth and we ask you to help mark the occasion by supporting this project.
Mapping Memories - YOUR contribution will bring this project to life.
As well as mapping permanent public sculptures and works in collections, the project will feature temporary works that now only exist in archive photos and as memories, including his best-known works, The Straw Locomotive and The Paper Boat.
We’ll ask communities, artists, curators, critics, welders, ship builders, school pupils - everyone who worked with George and experienced his art to contribute to this project by sharing their stories.
An art trail with locations and details of works, including shared memories and stories, will then be freely available online allowing more people to discover and enjoy George’s accessible art-for-all.
We hope you will help.
About George Wyllie (31 December 1921 – 15 May 2012)
George Wyllie is one of Scotland’s most popular and important artists. His work is found across the UK as public sculptures and in collections. He worked in communities creating temporary place-specific artworks. Wyllie described himself as a ‘scul?tor’ and is best known for his ephemeral giant 'social sculptures’, The Straw Locomotive (1987) and The Paper Boat (1989). He worked across a wide array of artistic mediums and was also an award-winning writer and performer.
Who are we?
Our wee project team are curator and producer Lynne Mackenzie and communications specialist Jan Patience working with guidance, support and cheeriness from Lousie Wyllie and family.
Your Rewards
George Wyllie Goody Bag
A bag of exclusive goodies and souvenirs from George's most popular projects.
Paper Boat Brooch
Made by George. Receive one of the few remaining original Paper Boat brooches
Paper Boat Becks Poster
From George's own archive! The original poster used to promote the launch of George's Paper Boat sculpture.
Original Artwork by George Wyllie
We will send you an original signed and dated 'Joseph Conrad 1906' artwork from the Wyllie family collection.
Creative Scotland 2020 has provided £1,000 of match funding
This project successfully funded on 14th September 2020