Red Cedar Logs Make Grand Entrance to The Pans

Behold The Logs from Which Our Totems Shall be Carved!

On a crisp and brilliant East Lothian Spring morning the two red cedar logs shipped 6000 miles from Chemainus finally made their choreographed entrance to the Pans - standing in fact on the Prestoungrange Gothenburg's car park.

The date had beeen specifically selected because two First Nations carvers, Xwa Lack Tun and Huu Yaah from Canada's NW Pacific region, were already in Scotland and could bless the poles on their arrival. Their presence was occasioned by completion of a Scottish Arts Council sponsored pole in Kelty the previous week which is part of a Scotland wide programme led by Kenny Grieve of Brotus Crafts that has been running since 2002.




BBC TV Reporting Scotland and Glagow Herald also told the Story

Media interest was strong in the whole occasion with the Glasgow Herald and BBC Reporting Scotland both giving coverage. BBC's TV cameras also followed DC Thompson's Bonnie Scotland low loader to MeadowMill after the photocall where indoor facilities for the carvers have been provided by East Lothian Council.

The selection of pictures below illustrates their collection from Winton Hill Farm where the poles have been since arrival courtesy of Sir Francis Ogilvy and transfer all the way to MeadowMill via the Prestoungrange Gothenburg.







Determining The Symbols and Carving The Poles

The project for the Prestoungrange Totems is under the direction of Arts Festival Team Leader Kristine Cunningham. But Kenny Grieve [with whom she is pictured entwined beneath the cherry blossom!] and First Nations carvers will be guiding one and all in the Pans as we seek to determine the symbols to include and the precise carving schedule.

School and community groups are being invited to make their suggestions for the appropriate symbols derived from the town's historical past, in partnership with briefing resources from the National Museums of Scotland and others. Carving is expected to commence in August 2005 with a final deadline for the raising of the Totems in August 2006 at the Global Conference of the Association of Mural Arts and Cultural Tourism.

Visitor groups to watch the carving in process will be welcomed and those wishing to participate should contact the Arts Festival team on 01875 819922. Wood carvers who would like to play a part are also welcome to make contact and their involvement will be greatly welcomed.