Creator of The Kelpies unveils new statue in Minnesota Achi-News

A decade on, Kelpies sculptor Andy Scott has fully settled into life in sun-kissed Los Angeles, his home for the past two and a half years.

It is a long way from his studio workshop overlooking the canal at Maryhill – the same canal that once witnessed the heavy horses pulling boats and cargo along the towpath that inspired Scott on for The Kelpies.

READ MORE: The Kelpies at 10: the blood, sweat and tears it took to create a Scottish icon

Scott, who recently threw his hammer and chisel into the ring to make a long-awaited statue paying tribute to AC/DC in Glasgow’s east end – after the Herald announced plans were underway to commemorate the connection a city with one of the city’s best bands. rock and roll history, just finished installing a giant loon sculpture at one of the most iconic intersections in Minnesota.

“Civic placemaking in action all the way from Maryhill”, says Scott.

The loon sculpture – Minnesota’s state bird – is the latest addition to a portfolio of more than 90 public installations around the world – including in the Netherlands, Spain, Mexico and Australia – Scott has been involved with since graduating with Honors from Glasgow School of Art (GSA) back in 1987.

Scott told The Herald: “The statue was commissioned by the McGuire Family Foundation which is responsible for the significant redevelopment of an area of ​​the city of St Paul Minnesota. The regeneration is centered around Allianz Stadium, the home of the main football team the region, United Minnesota CPD.

“Dr McGuire and his colleague, fellow Scotsman Gordon Mckinnon, were aware of my portfolio of prominent public artworks and asked if we would come up with some concepts for that location. They had surveyed other artists such as part of the process, but after offering some concepts, they eventually settled on what now sits at the very busy junction of two of the city’s main thoroughfares, University & Snelling Avenues.

“The Loon is very precious in the hearts of Minnesota, representing the essence of nature and the outdoors of that beautiful state. They are not found in Scotland, although I am familiar with their very unique call. It was a pleasure to me. for me to learn more about these beautiful birds and a privilege to bring them to the public’s attention through this great landmark.”

The sculpture, which is 11 meters high and has a wingspan of around 30 metres, is made of stainless steel and was made by LA company Dyson & Womack. Incidentally, the company also has roots in Glasgow, with its two founding partners, Chris Dyson and Emily Womack, meeting while studying at GSA.

Scott said: “I did small scale studies, the largest of which was 3.5 meters x 10 metres, and they expanded the artwork to its final monument scale in their huge assembly workshop in east LA .

“Like all large-scale works of art it involved a large team to make it happen – engineers, landscape architects and in this case even a fleet of twelve 55ft semi-trailers to transport the sections from LA to St. Paul.”

As they do to the nearby Forth & Clyde Canal, the majestic, shimmering beasts, The Kelpies, continue to cast positive shadows over Scott, many years after they began life as a drawing on a kitchen table in Amsterdam.

The Kelpies (Image: The Kelpies)

“We are thrilled by how many people we meet here who have been to The Kelpies – they have proven to be a great calling card”, says Scott.

He continued: “Everything has come to an end here. My wife Hanneke and I have been in LA now for two and a half years, after five years in Philadelphia.

“The California lifestyle definitely suits us, but if anything it’s even harder work to keep the studio busy and the projects coming in.

“We’ve set up a great studio space close to home and have been warmly welcomed by the locals in our neighbourhood.”

And despite his workshop being located over 5,000 miles from his native Glasgow, Scott revealed that he still works with his Maryhill colleagues when it comes to installations.

He is also in talks for two historically themed pieces: one on the East Coast of Scotland and the other on the West Coast, and he hopes to undertake another piece of public art in his native country soon.

He added: “Living in the US is best described as ‘complex’ and the world of commissioning large works of art is very different to the UK. That said there is an infectious enthusiasm here which was sometimes hard to find to him in the homeland.

“We are very fortunate that we still have regular inquiries for new projects in Scotland. The world truly is a global village and new clients in the UK are not deterred by distance as transport long distance goods are very manageable.

“We manage to get home at least once a year to see family and friends and it’s always nice to get back to the old town, especially Café Gandolfi and Mother India!”