Community led art project reveals final piece.
Last week (on Wednesday 26 November) the Solway Coast National Landscape team, in partnership with Cumberland Council, proudly unveiled a new artwork celebrating the beauty and character of the Solway Coast.
After a summer of collaboration with Botcherby Community Centre and Carlisle-based artist Ameena Khatun, the final piece 'Seascape Vista' was ready to be revealed.
Earlier this year, members of the community centre visited the National Landscape to gain creative inspiration, taking in the vast sands of Allonby Bay and the hidden wetlands of Crosscanonby Carr. Participants were, in their own words, “blown away” by the wildlife, vistas and sense of space the National Landscape provided.
Artist, Ameena was then commissioned to transform the groups’ sketches, words and ideas into a vibrant artwork that tells the story of their coastal encounters.
“This is not just an artwork; it’s a conversation between city and sea,” said Ameena Khatun. “I’m thrilled to stitch together the colours, textures and memories the group discovered on the Solway.”
Seascape Vista is a result of true community co-creation and perfectly reflects how members of the Botcherby Community Centre felt when immersed in the Solway Coast National Landscape
Cumberland Councillor Anne Quilter, Vibrant and Healthy Places Portfolio Holder, said: “It is wonderful to see the new relationships that have been developed through this art project, the collaborative effort and strong community focus have produced an art piece with true meaning”.
The story of Seascape Vista does not end here. The Solway Coast team, with the support of Cumberland Council, intend on displaying the work in various locations between Carlisle and the coast, engaging new audiences and sparking the publics curiosity for their local National Landscape.