Past, Present Possible? - High Street & Saltmarket

This project was about celebrating both the past and the present, as well as drawing out possible futures for High Street and Saltmarket. 

A team from WAVEparticle went out and about High Street and Saltmarket over the course of three weeks in June 2017. With the aid of a large-scale leporello map of the area, they had conversations with local retailers, residents and passers-by from whom they collected images and stories about the area. 

The images were used in a unique event, which took place on Saturday 22nd July during the Merchant City Festival, that focused attention on the line that runs through Glasgow from High Street to the Saltmarket – the oldest line in the city. For the event 101 bespoke, handheld banners were created and then flown in a celebratory parade along the line. Half of the banners celebrated the history and heritage of the street currently invisible, whilst the other half carried an emblem or symbol drawn from the lived life and stories of the present retailers and residents that live and work along the line, many of whom chose to personally fly their symbol on the day. The parade ended up at the Briggait with the flags installed into an instant exhibition which was attended by Lord Provost, Eva Bolander.

This project was supported by Glasgow City Council and the Carnegie UK Trust as a prototype for accelerating change and building a holistic approach to place-making and place-mending.

Date:

July 2017

Role:

Lead Artist