Scott's Stag

Andy Scott is an artist I admire and I have Blipped a few of his pieces, I had heard about this one but never seen it so took the opportunity of an early finish to seek it out.

This sculpture of a stag, a symbol of regeneration and growth, was installed in April 2012 as part of the regeneration of the Bonhill area North of Dumbarton, with residential and commercial redevelopment underway. It is sad that it is a little off the main A 82 as it wends its way towards Loch Lomond as it really deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.

The stag is beautiful and stands six metres high, weighing two tons, lives up to its reputation of monarch of the glen, truly the king of all it surveys. The plinth represents the reflection of the stag designed to give the impression it is standing in water the reflection underneath, linking the area of the park to the nearby River Leven, Firth of Clyde and Loch Lomond. The Business Park where the stag sits is a key part of the redevelopment which also encompasses BBC's River City studios for anyone who may watch the Scottish soap.

The stag imagery is strongly held in many beliefs, Christianity, Pagan and Wiccan to name but a few, to me it has always been an image of strength, independence, and majesty.

I wish I had some of that strength at the moment, it has been a very long few days, it is hard to focus when events beyond your control conspire to consume your every waking thought, waiting for news is the hardest part of life and nothing you can do prepares you for the wait, time passes slowly, each minute seeming like ten!! Today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, strictly speaking the longest day light hours but this week every day has been my personal solstice, at least that's how it feels.

The sun was obscured by the clouds when I was shooting but I like the shapes and contours of the sculpture against the cloud, it kind of reflects how I feel these opast few days, I hope you enjoy the shot and tomorrow is another day...every day, in every way, a little stronger I hope... For us all