The head of the Kelpie’s cousin to be revealed
The Beithir will be unveiled on Friday.
On March 1 Scotland’s largest community mosaic art project will be unveiled next to the Stockingfield Bridge.
The artwork, named the Beithir and created by artist Nichol Wheatley, is a mythical serpent in Scottish folklore and the cousin to the Kelpie’s in Falkirk.
The 121-metre piece has been commissioned by Scottish Canals and will be the largest of the 22 artworks surrounding the new bridge.
Mr Wheatley had previously worked on the Stockingfield Bridge and wants to continue creating to “provide a vehicle for social action and positive change within North Glasgow”.
He said: “The purpose of this artwork is to build relationships and make connections, initially, within the three communities, Ruchill, Maryhill and Gilshochill, which are now physically re-joined by the new bridge.”
The creation of the serpent was done in collaboration with Make It Glasgow, who helped create the around 2,000 tiles for the head of Beithir through community groups.
Co-founder Ruth Impey said: “It is a unique experience for the community members involved.
“It is something they will be able to visit for years to come, along with the other mosaic creations we have contributed to at Stockingfield Bridge,” she added.
Construction began in September 2023, and will continue for the next five years as the local community helps put scales on the rest of the art work.
It will involve around 30,000 participants.
The Beithir is affectionally name Bella as a nod to the late Alasdair Gray, who Mr Wheatley worked with for 15 years.
The unveiling will take place at Strokingfield Bridge between 5:30pm and 7pm.
