AN ARCHER sculpture could be located on the banks of the River Esk near the Roman Bridge in Musselburgh.
The work of art is one of two which will have pride of place in the Honest Toun after a £76,000 cash boost from Tesco.
Svetlana Kondakova and Maja Quille, graduates of Edinburgh College of Art, have been working on The Archer, a life-size bronze cast of an archer and 12 steel arrows.
Michael Johnson of Nottinghamshire has created Memory and Reflection, a stainless steel piece in the shape of a mussel shell, which is earmarked for Murdoch Green.
The artists have been commissioned to undertake the work, which is being funded by Tesco with £38,000 for each of the two sculptures, as part of East Lothian Council’s Percent for Art Policy.
An East Lothian Council spokesperson said the site near the Roman Bridge was just one location being considered for The Archer, with planning permission needed.
She added: “The other has only recently been suggested and is still to undergo a risk assessment before either option can be considered.
“The artists have been working on the final design to reflect the heritage of the town and its links to archers throughout past centuries. The theme for the life-sized figure will be representative of a universal archer.
“We also plan use to stainless steel arrows to create a trail around the town. Artists have met with the council to begin discussions on the placement of the arrows. These arrows will be placed on council buildings and will link directly back to the archer. A publication highlighting the router and the history behind the trail will also be produced to encourage tourism and pride in the area.”
The archer has been inspired by local history, with three important aspects of the town’s heritage represented: the Roman invasion in AD 80, the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547, and the Musselburgh Silver Arrow, which dates back to 1603 and is claimed to be the oldest sporting trophy in the world.
Planning consent will also be needed for the mussel shell on Murdoch Green, and a working group is currently discussing lighting options for the artwork.
A sandstone fisher folk sculpture at the site, which has been eroded by the sea air, is likely to be moved to a more sheltered area. It is believed that the bronze and steel shell will be more durable and suited to the location.
The artist has been working with local schools on designs for bronze pieces which will reflect Musselburgh’s heritage and will be applied to the outer facade of the sculpture. The idea behind this is to create glimpses of the past that resemble fossils. The viewer will see images of agriculture, people, connections to the sea, the Esk, Romans and more recent industries. The inside of the shell will be smooth and mirror-polished and will reflect whatever or whoever stands in front of it.
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