A new art project is brightening up Kirkcaldy town centre by filling unused shop windows with original artwork.
Launched in January, the scheme sees art by local artist group Blacksand Contemporary Arts displayed in shops that have been left empty as a result of the credit crunch.
Artist Patricia Bray said that Blacksand Contemporary Arts were “very happy to be approached to take part.” She added, "It provides a great opportunity to put our artwork in the centre of town where it's easily seen by the public and we hope that this is the start of further innovative partnerships with Fife Council."
The project is led by Andrew Walker, economic advisor with council development services, who said, "Shop windows are an ideal place to exhibit art and they are an excellent way of bringing art to a much wider audience. Culture has a unique ability to lift people and places, and will hopefully attract new visitors to the town centre and in turn boost the local economy."
Councillor Brian Goodall, chairman of the housing and communities committee added, "This is a very exciting and unique project for Kirkcaldy and we are pleased that it's one of the first in the Celebrating Fife 2010 year-long programme. I'm very much looking forward to walking the art trail and hope that many others will also feel inspired by the local works of art."
The art has met with mixed reactions from the public. One visitor to the town centre commented, “They should concentrate on new shops and jobs, rather than filling the windows with rubbish”. However, Lesley-Anne, a student at the town’s Adam Smith College said. “I think it’s interesting, and a good use of the space”.
Not everyone has even noticed the art. Several locals asked “What artwork?” when asked their opinion.
There is currently art on show in eight empty shop windows across the town. The displays are varied, with everything from coloured doilies to a range of items found washed up along the Kirkcaldy coastline.
For some, the idea of filling empty windows is appealing, but not what Fife Council has chosen. One Kirkcaldy resident said, “I think it brightens up spaces where there is nothing, but it could have been more imaginative.” Michael, another student at Adam Smith College, said “They should have let students fill the windows instead of what they have done.”
Artist Damon Herd has created a pictorial biography of Kirkcaldy-born engineer and inventor, Sir Sandford Fleming, who invented standard time. The paintings are displayed on the High Street, in the site formerly occupied by Birthdays. The work has proved popular, and as well as brightening up the High Street, it has brought Sir Sandford Fleming to the attention of locals, with one man commenting, “It caught my eye, and I stopped to read it. It’s very interesting.”
For anyone interested in viewing the art, displayed across Kirkcaldy, an art trail leaflet has been produced. Available in public buildings in the town, the leaflet includes a map of the artwork, and detailed information about each display.