RMJM Art Commissioning

Public Spaces

Ruth Barker: The Shores of the Familiar (Public Artwork)

Cowcaddens Underpass, Glasgow

December 07

The Shores of the Familiar is a permanent public artwork by artist Ruth Barker, commissioned for the Cambridge Lane / Cowcaddens pedestrian underpass by the Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership (a joint venture between ISIS and Glasgow City Council (GCC), supported by British Waterways...

“Seeing the artist only as a maker of objects and non-artists only as consumers rather than as participants in a cultural process or event is a rather outdated concept, and if art can and does become an engagement of the social imagination; networks and neighbourhoods and the people of a city can begin to feel that their sense of place and community is reinforced and enriched”

Sam Ainsley
Artist, co-founder and former Head of the Master of Fine Art course at The Glasgow School of Art

Public Spaces

Ruth Barker: The Shores of the Familiar (Public Artwork)

Cowcaddens Underpass, Glasgow

December 07

As part of the £84.5m Millennium Link Restoration Project, the Forth and Clyde Canal was re-opened in 2002. In mid 2003, Glasgow City Council committed funding to enable the reconnection of the link between Speirs Wharf and Port Dundas. This link has restored the entire length of the Glasgow branch as a navigable route, allowing canal traffic to berth within a short walk of Glasgow city centre.

However, public awareness of the new canal quarter is low and RMJM was commissioned to design proposals to link this new waterside district back into the city centre. These design proposals have been developed in partnership with GCC Land and Environmental Services to create a network of upgraded footpaths, cycleways, lighting and planting.

Cowcaddens underpass forms the starting point of this new route to the canal and its significance has been highlighted by RMJM's Art Commissioning strand, enabling Ruth Barker to create a site specific artwork: "Shores of the Familiar". Ruth's abstract depictions of the flora and fauna of the waterway create a sense of anticipation of the route's destination and at the same time create a sense of place in its own right, where passers by capture a glimpse into the unseen depths of the canal system.

Commissioning an artist in this manner has added a dynamic, exciting aspect to this landscape scheme and has provided Glasgow with a permanent artwork from one of the city's most promising emerging artists.