Community Coo for Loch Earn BLiSS Trail at Crieff Cowches Auction
Have you “herd”? Two of the 11 cow shaped designer benches from Crieff Succeeds unique summer art trail have mooved to Loch Earn to join the award winning BLISS trail, following an auction in aid of Air Ambulance, at Crieff Hydro on October 9th.
Having collaborated with Loch Earn residents and community groups to fund a collective bid sum in advance, BLiSS trail innovators Loch Earn Tourism Information (LETi) were prepared on arrival at the auction dinner held in Crieff Hydro’s Melville Hall.
After failing to win MacGregor by June McEwan (fittingly won by Crieff Highland Gathering), the LETi Loch Earn bid team persevered to win not one but two cowches on budget.
“On Watch” painted by Scottish artist Chelsea Rodger, is inspired by nature and the great outdoors. The cowch’s new home outside the Lochearnhead Village Hall opposite the BLS Highland Games field is already evoking smiles and attention from residents, visitors and passers by. Her vibrant sky blue and green body is covered with images from nature including, red squirrels, bluebells and bees, much to the delight of the resident playgroup. The wild hare painted on the front was placed to watch over the environment. The Lochearnhead Village Hall committee is already considering spring flower planting to complement the installation.
Artist Chelsea Rodger said ” I hope that my passion for painting and for Scottish wildlife shines through.”
Visitors are invited to take a seat, spend time taking in the surroundings and share photographs of On Watch and other BLiSS trail installations on social media @robroycountry.
Loch Earn also gains “Moodnight Meadow” by Perthshire ceramic artist Ceri White. The dark aubergine cowch has mirrored tile horns with a gold fringe, hooves and markings. Designed to represent the beauty of the countryside by moonlight, her new luxury paddock is the grassy verge overlooking Loch Earn, opposite The Four Seasons Hotel in St Fillans.
Artist Ceri describes herself as a night owl, aware of how astonishing the landscape is by moonlight. Her humour and creative imagination fits well with BLiSS trail providing an opportunity to attract folklore and dark sky fans.
Ceri says ” At night a new mysterious landscape with unknown inhabitants emerges. Who knows what the cows get up to. Their horns and hooves are bathed in moonshine and perhaps they feel a little more glamorous and alluring - ready to welcome all the creatures of the night to their meadow”
Viewers may recognise some of the scenes on Moodnight Meadow, as Ceri used the distinctive topiary of Perthshire's Drummond Castle Gardens for inspiration.
Both artists are delighted that their work will be visible to the public in a naturally beautiful area with an outdoor art trail, that is open all year round.
The award winning BLISS trail aims to make people stop, smile and spend time in the area linking Loch Earn villages St Fillans and Lochearnhead with neighbours Balquhidder and Strathyre. The BLiSS trail smartphone app www.geotourist.com/tours/2040 makes it easy to find the installations triggering stories recorded by artists and community folk.
LETi Chair Kim Proven said “We are delighted with our bid result. Not just for our community contribution towards the £24 900 total raised for Air Ambulance and not just to enhance the BLiSS trail story but for the collective ownership and sense of achievement by a community working together towards a common goal. It shows what can be done. A huge thank you to everyone who supported this and hats off to Crieff Succeeds for an innovative and exciting summer campaign culminating in a generous donation to a charity much valued by rural communities.”
Loch Earn auction ambassadors included LETi business members and Chair Kim Proven, BLS Highland Games President Angus Cameron, Lochearnhead Village Hall treasurer Ollie Cameron, BLS The Villagers news correspondent Ali Ferguson, members of St Fillans Golf Club and community representatives Liz and Martin Sanders, Sue Galloway, Andrew Low, Fraser Proven and Mike Calder. Kingshouse Travel owner Graeme Courtney transported the bid team to and from the auction venue. The Cowches were delivered to Loch Earn by Angus Cameron and lifted safely into position by community farm managers Alex Bowers for Lochearnhead and Ian McLarty for St Fillans.
Perhaps it is fitting that Loch Earn community cowches, On Watch in Lochearnhead and Moodnight Meadow in St Fillans can be seen on the BLiSS trail along the old drove road, pointing the way back to Crieff.
