Hidden away in the deepest jungle of Murray Drive are four small grey Indian elephants. For those who have not ventured into what was once the beginnings of a 60,000 homes development (Stonehouse New Town), they might be surprised to find the strange sight of four cast concrete sculptures foraging in the centre of this housing settlement. With the passing of time and new residents choosing to make their home here, the origins of these lonely figures have faded. In actual fact these sculptures were commissioned by the East Kilbride and Stonehouse Development Corporation between 1974-1977. The sculptor was Stanley Bonnar (b.1948) who designed and sculpted several artworks including the elephants for the new town development in Murray Drive. Weighing three quarters of a ton each and standing a metre high, the elephants were designed as a play facility and feature for the residents. Some may also remember the tulips and totem pole carving at the play park at the foot of Cam’nethan Street in the mid 1970s. The totem pole was carved from a telegraph pole found lying at Cot castle but alas these sculptures were only to last a few years. Stanley Bonnar is a nationally prominent artist having been commissioned for many schemes and community projects throughout the country. He has exhibiting at the RSA in 1970 and won a Scottish Arts Council Award in 1994. As well as working as a commissioned artist he worked as a tutor of Environmental Art at Glasgow School of Art (1985-1992). Some folks may still recall Stanley working on the construction of his works at Cot castle in the mid 1970s. Today the elephants parade along Murray Drive bringing a smile to faces of passers-by who stumble upon these mysterious lonely grey figures. (from Heres Tae Us! by John R. Young - stonehousebooks.co.uk)
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 19:08:07 +0000
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