WORK has begun on plans for new piece of public art in Helensburgh remembering the legacy of world-renowned conservationist John Muir – but Muir's heavily-criticised views on race mean the artwork is unlikely to be a statue of the man himself.
The Green Action Trust (GAT), which is responsible for the upkeep of the 134-mile John Muir Way from Helensburgh to Dunbar, and art organisation WAVEParticle held the first in a series of online workshops last week to gather the views of the community on how best to mark the western end of the route.
The start – or finish – of the walk in Helensburgh is currently marked by a flat, ground-level artwork at the eastern end of the promenade, close to the public toilets on the pier.
But relocating that artwork to the corner of West Clyde Street and Sinclair Street forms part of the £22 million redevelopment of the town’s waterfront – and thought is now being given to whether the western end of the Way should be marked more prominently, to point walkers towards the official start, or end, of the route.
Muir, who was born and raised in Dunbar, emigrated from Scotland to America with his family in 1849, when he was 11 years old.
His passion for the conservation and the natural world led to him becoming known as ‘the patron saint of the American wilderness’ and ‘Father of the National Parks’.
READ MORE: Racist views of conservationist John Muir prompt review
But he hit the headlines in the summer of 2020 when the Sierra Club, which Muir founded to champion the American environment in 1892, issued a public apology for the “derogatory comments" he made in some of his writings about Black and Indigenous Americans, which "drew on deeply harmful racist stereotypes”, while stating that “his views evolved later in his life”.
Also last summer, Black Lives Matter protesters toppled a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston from its plinth in Bristol and dumped in the city's docks.
Helensburgh resident Christine Woods, referring to that incident, asked: “Are we opening ourselves up to trouble if anyone takes exception to a statue of Muir?”
Elaine Macintosh from the GAT replied: “John Muir was not perfect, and we’re not trying to say that he was – but there is plenty in his legacy that we think is worthy of promotion.
The current flat artwork marking the western end of the John Muir Way is to be relocated to the junction of Sinclair Street and West Clyde Street as part of the waterfront work - but a new, more prominent, piece of art marking the start, or end, point of
“I wouldn’t imagine that the outcome of this piece of work will be a statue of John Muir himself.
"In promoting the John Muir Way we are much more interested in promoting what Muir was an advocate of, than promoting the man himself.”
Ms Macintosh told the event: “The feedback from users of the John Muir Way is that it’s quite hard to find the current start or finish point.
READ MORE: Look back at how Helensburgh celebrated the launch of the John Muir Way in 2014
“We’ve managed to secure some money from the Scotland Loves Local fund to carry out the first phase of a new project, putting forward a brief for an artwork that’s a bit more visible, though we don’t yet have money for a subsequent phase to fund an artwork itself.”
The Way in Helensburgh climbs up Colquhoun Street, past the Hill House and out of town on the cycle path next to the A818 before crossing Bannachra Muir, Goukhill Muir and Upper Stoneymollan and descending to Balloch.
From there it continues via Carbeth, Strathblane, Lennoxtown, Kirkintilloch, Croy, Bonnybridge, the Falkirk Wheel, Linlithgow, Bo'ness, South Queensferry and Edinburgh, before the final stretch via Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Gullane and North Berwick to Dunbar, where Muir was born on April 21, 1838.
Further Zoom workshops to explore Helensburgh's views on the idea of a new piece of art remembering Muir's legacy, if not Muir himself, are being held on Wednesday, April 21 and Wednesday, April 28, before the end results are presented at a further session on Thursday, May 13.
Each of the sessions will run from 7-9pm.
To take part in the sessions click on the following on each date:
Wednesday, April 21 at 7pm: bit.ly/MuirWork2
Wednesday, April 28 at 7pm: bit.ly/MuirWork3
Thursday, May 13 at 7pm: bit.ly/MuirReview
READ MORE: Catch up with all the latest Helensburgh and Lomond news headlines here
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