Letter in response to AHM's opposition to Star of Caledonia

David received the following letter through the post the other day in response to the article written in the Herald opposing the Star of Caledonia.

an alternative view about the Star of Caledonia

Star of Caledonia a bright and brave Border landmark

Published 05 July 2011 in the Scotsman

CONGRATULATIONS to structural designer Cecil Balmond in conjuring up, through the swirling mists of constitutional uncertainty and the bleak gloom of our financial circumstances, a giant, soaring, jewel-encrusted sculpture - the Star of Caledonia - to straddle the Border with England.
It is a fitting landmark at an iconic location and should inspire first time visitors and returning Scots alike - so long as the vandals don't get at it. Other shapes - a swirling claymore, a sparkling clump of heather, a permanently gurgling bottle of whisky - would have dragged us into banal cliché, triggering a torrent of caustic derision.

Mr Balmond has avoided the conventional symbols and the vainglorious posturing of the grandiose in favour of a design that is novel and inspirational in equal measure. How wise not to have opted for a giant bronze statue of Grandpa Broon, or a massive can of Irn Bru, or Jimmy Shand playing on a diamond-encrusted accordion, the music broadcast through tannoys cemented into the roadside to keep up travellers' morale. Mr Balmond has done well to dodge these images and celebrate instead the enduring contribution of Scottish civil engineering. As such, the Caledonian Star is a tribute to our past as well as a beacon to our future (toilets and services: two miles).

Star of Caledonia fails to shine

Star of Caledonia fails to shine

Published on 5 Aug 2011 in the Herald in response to the letter written by AHM and published on 3rd August 2011

In common with a great many others I too think the proposed Star of Caledonia is a monstrosity that a few members of the “creative” industry wish to foist upon the road travelling public at Gretna (Letters, August 3).

It is claimed that it will be as memorable as the (awful) Angel of the North.

The words emperor’s new clothes seem to spring to mind. I would urge the Scottish Government to have nothing to do with this project.

Aileen Currie,

Rowanwood,

Lamington,

Near Invergordon.

Border sculpture faces opposition

Jody Harrison writes in the Herald about the letter of disapproval written by AHM, Ray Mackenzie and Ross Birrell in relation to the Star of Caledonia.

Note to readers: Sam is not a former member of the Scottish Arts Council, Alexander Moffat is a painter rather than sculptor and David Harding is primarily an artist as opposed to a writer!

This article was published in the Herald on Wednesday 3rd August 2011