2007 Shortlist Announced for Scottish Eco Prize for Creativity

05 November 2007
Topics: Other

The Scottish Eco Prize for Creativity announces its 2007 shortlist today. This is an award to celebrate artistic work in Scotland which inspires greener living.

The winners will be announced on Tuesday 13th November at an award ceremony at The Lighthouse in Glasgow. The award celebrates work in any creative form which demonstrates flair and imagination inspiring others to engage in environmentally-friendly lifestyles. There are two winning categories: Emerging Talent and Established Talent.

In its third year, the award is an initiative of the Eco Trust. In 2007, the Prize is supported by its principal funder Sust., the Lighthouse on Sustainability, its contributory funder, Loch Fyne Oysters Trust and by the Russell Trust. It is run in association with leading environmental organisation, Friends of the Earth Scotland, and with The Lighthouse, Scotland's National Centre for Architecture, Design and The City - the hub for the creative industries in Scotland.

The four shortlisted entries in the Emerging Talent category are:

- Ecological Footprints‚ by Lisa Shaw (Moray)

Ecological Footprints is one of a series of murals which transforms the base of wind turbines into huge artistic canvasses. The series, painted on the turbines based at the Findhorn Ecovillage in Moray, explores the connections between the paintings and green energy exploring ecological principles and practices from an emotional, spiritual and intellectual perspective. The artist encouraged children and adults from the local area to engage in painting their footprints, each with an eco choice and a non eco choice, so inviting people to consider the impact of their own energy consumption on the planet.

- Garden for Global Warming‚ by Meleri McEwan (Linlithgow)

This garden design shows how, even within the confines of a small urban courtyard, people can reduce their carbon footprint in beautiful, inspiring and satisfying ways. This garden features drought-tolerant, wildlife-friendly borders, raised organic vegetable beds, curved seating made from recycled vending cups, retractable washing line, a slimline water butt and sailcloth awning. The garden was voted the People's Choice at the Avant Gardens Competition at New Hopetoun Gardens in the summer of 2007.

- Glasgow Eco Design Centre by James Connor (East Ayrshire)

This is a design for an Eco Design Centre positioned beneath Glasgow's Royal Botanic Gardens in a disused underground steam train station. This design was developed as a final year student project and incorporates organic forms and structures which demonstrate the potential of alternative eco materials. Should this student project become a reality, it has the potential to gain local, national and international interest promoting Glasgow's green credentials.

- Solar Vintage‚ by Elena Corchero (Moray)

Solar Vintage is a prototype collection of solar powered decorative accessories for the eco fashion-minded consumer. The collection explores delicate ways of incorporating solar cells into textiles in which technology meets tradition. Electronic components like solar cells, resistors and LEDs are integrated directly into antique and hand-embellished fabrics and wired together into working circuits using conductive thread. This work provides a refreshing angle on Œwearable computing‚ disguising it in a beautiful and stylistic way.

The four shortlisted entries in the Established Talent category are:

- Great Glen House Interactive Presentation‚ by Kenny Shaw (Glasgow)

This interactive presentation reveals how sustainability was at the heart of the location, design and build of Great Glen House, the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage and winner of the BRE Office Building of the Year. The presentation uses a rich mix of media including audio, video, animation and professional photography. It conveys how the Great Glen House provides a positive contribution to the environment demonstrating a sensitive, sustainable design for a commercial development in a rural setting.

- The Man Who Planted Trees‚ by Richard Medrington (Edinburgh)

This theatrical production is a stage adaptation by the Puppet State Theatre Company of Jean Giono‚s environmental cult classic. It tells the story of how a French shepherd and his dog persevere to overcome various obstacles and transform the bleak landscape which surrounds them into a rich woodland ecosystem. It uses a unique blend of comedy, puppetry, storytelling and multi-sensory effects.

- Other Flowers of Scotland‚ by David Watson Hood (Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire)

This photographic series is composed of kaleidoscopic digital images from close-up photography. The images are of the flowers of trees and plants, mostly of native origin, and with long standing Scottish economic or cultural significance. The work draws inspiration from ancient sources but also depends on the latest technology. It engages both photography and compositional techniques of painting and decorative designs to connect its audience to plant life and biodiversity in a visually unique way.

- Spindrift‚ by Roddy Mathieson (Dundee)

This sculpture is a pewter sculpture which has been cast using charcoal and the calcium shells of cuttlefish for moulds engaging an environmentally friendly foundry technique. This sculpture was created using the artist's foundry, Alchemy, a completely unique facility using traditional and environmentally friendly processes to create contemporary works of art and design cast in metal. Recycled materials are used throughout with the foundry sourcing bronze from old engineering parts, aluminium from old car pistons and pewter from scrap metal merchants.

Kay Henning, Founder and Trustee of the Eco Trust said:

"The Trust created this award to celebrate and encourage creatives with flair and inventiveness who are making positive artistic statements on greener living. We have been deeply impressed by the originality and imagination of the entries across many artistic forms."

Lori McElroy, Director of Sust., The Lighthouse on Sustainability said:

"We are delighted to be associated with this award. Scotland needs more awards, especially relating to projects that combine creativity and an emphasis on sustainability. This award fills the vacuum."

Duncan McLaren, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland said:

"Public awareness about environmental problems has never been higher, yet many despair that we can not solve them. The entries for the Eco Prize show that talented artists and creatives are coming up with positive solutions as well as helping further raise awareness."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Further press information

Further press information including a brief profile of the shortlisted candidates and further details about the prize are available at www.eco-prize.org.uk <http://www.eco-prize.org.uk/> . High resolution images are also available at www.eco-prize.org.uk/press <http://www.eco-prize.org.uk/press> . Contact details for each of the shortlisted entrants are available from Kay Henning on request on 07941 117363.

[2] Organisation details

The Eco Trust is a charitable trust created to inspire creativity and to celebrate environmentally-friendly living and greener lifestyles.

Sust. is The Lighthouse‚s project on sustainability.

www.sust.org <http://www.sust.org/>

Loch Fyne Oysters Trust remit includes protection of the environment, particularly within Scotland and the area around the head of Loch Fyne. It is funded by the seafood company Loch Fyne Oysters which itself is committed to a policy of total sustainability.

www.lochfyne.com <http://www.lochfyne.com/>

Friends of the Earth Scotland is an independent Scottish charity and one of the leading environmental organisations in Scotland.

www.foe-scotland.org.uk <http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/>

The Lighthouse is Scotland‚s National Centre for Architecture, Design and the City and the hub for the creative industries in Scotland.

www.thelighthouse.co.uk <http://www.thelighthouse.co.uk/>

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