Star of Caledonia
Artist(s): The late Charles Jencks and Cecil Balmond
Client: The Gretna Landmark Trust
Star of Caledonia is a collaborative design between the late Charles Jencks and Cecil Balmond. The landmark work will capture the powerful energy, scientific heritage and magnetic pull of Scotland; the design pays homage to Scottish innovation and particularly James Clerk Maxwell, the pre-eminent Scottish physicist and mathematician. It was Maxwell who first said that light was energy and paved the way for Einstein and other great thinkers of the modern world.
We are delighted that as of October 2020 that the project has the potential to be fully funded by Community Windpower Ltd and Borderlands Growth Deal meeting the construction costs of £7m.
Gretna is the main road gateway to Scotland, of the 60% of visitors entering Scotland by road, 84% pass by Gretna. Star of Caledonia will situated at this entry point commanding an audience from the 5 million vehicles travelling north and south each year.
The Star of Caledonia is a brave and ambitious project that has grown out of place, people and landscape. The project was initiated by Alasdair Houston as a response to the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 which caused devastation to the rural economy. It has developed over may years and has grounded community support and international artistic vision.
Ginkgo is producing the project for the Gretna Landmark Trust.
Charles Jenks and Cecil Balmond
