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The Pyramids are a land sculpture alongside the M8 motorway at Bathgate.
Originally named the "Sawtooth Ramps", it was sponsored by Motorola and formed part of the M8 Art Project. [1] The sculpture was created by artist Patricia Leighton in 1993. It is 1,000 feet (300 m) long and consists of seven 36-foot (11 m) high ramps made of earth and seeded with grass. The artist based the design on local geographic features ( drumlins) and the shape of the surrounding bings. [2] Sheep are grazed on the structure which keeps the grass short. The pyramidal shape of the sculpture gave rise to the name of the nearby Pyramids Business Park. [1]
Coloured sheep
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In April 2007, a local farmer painted the sheep which graze on the grass mounds bright red with a harmless sheep spray. [3] Over the years the sheep have been painted different colours to raise awareness of charities: pink for Breast Cancer Research, and purple for World Autism Awareness Month by Scottish Autism in April 2015. [4]
Giant poppies
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Giant poppies have been painted on the grass ramps in November for a number of years. This is organised by Poppyscotland as part of the Remembrance Day commemorations and fund-raising. [5]
In 2015, the extremist political group Siol nan Gaidheal painted their white poppy logo on one of the ramps, which was condemned as vandalism and a political stunt by Angela Constance, a local MSP. [6]
References
- ^ a b "Scottish fact of the day: M8 motorway sculptures". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "projects". Art in Partnership. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "BBC NEWS: Edinburgh and East - Sheer brilliance for bright sheep". BBC News. 3 April 2007.
- ^ "Sheep at M8 Pyramids in West Lothian given make over for World Autism Awareness Month". dailyrecord. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "Giant poppies painted alongside busy motorway in honour of Remembrance Day". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "Anti-English extremist group hijacks famous poppy display on the M8 pyramids". mirror. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
The Pyramids are a land sculpture alongside the M8 motorway at Bathgate.
Originally named the "Sawtooth Ramps", it was sponsored by Motorola and formed part of the M8 Art Project. [1] The sculpture was created by artist Patricia Leighton in 1993. It is 1,000 feet (300 m) long and consists of seven 36-foot (11 m) high ramps made of earth and seeded with grass. The artist based the design on local geographic features ( drumlins) and the shape of the surrounding bings. [2] Sheep are grazed on the structure which keeps the grass short. The pyramidal shape of the sculpture gave rise to the name of the nearby Pyramids Business Park. [1]
Coloured sheep
In April 2007, a local farmer painted the sheep which graze on the grass mounds bright red with a harmless sheep spray. [3] Over the years the sheep have been painted different colours to raise awareness of charities: pink for Breast Cancer Research, and purple for World Autism Awareness Month by Scottish Autism in April 2015. [4]
Giant poppies
Giant poppies have been painted on the grass ramps in November for a number of years. This is organised by Poppyscotland as part of the Remembrance Day commemorations and fund-raising. [5]
In 2015, the extremist political group Siol nan Gaidheal painted their white poppy logo on one of the ramps, which was condemned as vandalism and a political stunt by Angela Constance, a local MSP. [6]
References
- ^ a b "Scottish fact of the day: M8 motorway sculptures". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "projects". Art in Partnership. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "BBC NEWS: Edinburgh and East - Sheer brilliance for bright sheep". BBC News. 3 April 2007.
- ^ "Sheep at M8 Pyramids in West Lothian given make over for World Autism Awareness Month". dailyrecord. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "Giant poppies painted alongside busy motorway in honour of Remembrance Day". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "Anti-English extremist group hijacks famous poppy display on the M8 pyramids". mirror. Retrieved 12 November 2015.