“Sunsets across the city”, “vital ecosystem”, “bees and butterflies dancing among the flowers” and “fishing with friends” are just some of the phrases members of the local community have used to describe their memories and experiences of the Forth and Clyde Canal in North Glasgow.
The submissions are all part of community crockery project run by food-based social enterprise Gathering Ground.
Gathering Ground will now use these precious stories and drawings of the canal to create a 90-piece hand-thrown crockery set which will be displayed at Gathering Ground in Old Basin House at Applecross Wharf and available to borrow by local community members.
People from across the local area got involved, including wee ones from Hamiltonhill Family Learning Centre and residents of Queen’s Cross Housing Association properties.
One member of the community wrote: a touching message which sums up the importance of the waterway to life in north Glasgow: “The canal unplugs me from the chaotic and noisy city and reminds me how important and vital an ecosystem like this is! From the bottom of my heart thank you! for taking care of it.”
The final crockery set will consist of plates, bowls, saucers, mugs and sharing platter and will be made by Kevin Callaghan, an award-winning sculptor based in Glasgow Sculpture Studios.
Vanessa Gilpin, Director of Gathering Ground, said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who has got involved in this special project which aims to explore how people identify with the Canal District, transferring these discoveries into everlasting pieces of hand-thrown crockery to be shared with the local community.
“It’s been a joy to uncover people’s experiences and memories. The next step is that we are going to get these printed onto decals and transferred onto the crockery items. We can’t wait to see the finished products and to see them used by others along the Glasgow canal.”
The project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and overseen by the Glasgow Canal Co-operative on behalf of Glasgow City Council.
The Gathering Ground were one of a selection of local groups and initiatives awarded a share of a £36,000 funding pot to helps the community explore and unlock the canal’s rich history and create exciting new activities across the area.