A NEW interactive community monument which is designed to allow people the chance to reflect on the pandemic has been opened in the heart of Greenock.
CVS Inverclyde, the council, RIG Arts and Greenspace Scotland have been involved in creating five labyrinths which are being installed across the area, including one which has just opened at the historic Wellpark.
The circular ground structures have been designed as part of the national Remembering Together project.
The project enables each of Scotland's 32 local authorities to reflect on the coronavirus pandemic with help from commissioned artists and creative organisations.
The opening of the one at Wellpark in Greenock was held to coincide with World Labyrinth Day.
Alison Bunce of Compassionate Inverclyde welcomed people along to the park and urged them to walk around the ground design.
She says that the simple act of walking around a labyrinth can greatly improve health and wellbeing.
Alison added: "They are an ancient tool and a symbol that represents life, and going from the outside into the centre.
"You can walk through a labyrinth with intention or without.
"By entering the shape of it and having to follow it around, it forces you to slow down which makes us much more mindful."
Alison said the day was a great success and thanked everyone for taking the time to attend.
The Wellpark labyrinth is one of five being installed in sites across Inverclyde between now and June.
The chosen locations are Port Glasgow's Coronation Park, Darroch Park in Gourock, Birkmyre Park in Kilmacolm, and in the green space behind Wemyss Bay Community Centre.
The team at RIG Arts developed labyrinths as part of a community Covid memorial project.
Led by artists Carolan McPherson, Seamus Killick, and Samantha Macgregor, they held a series of community events which allowed people to share their lockdown stories, reflect on their memories and offer opinions on how best to represent the area through their memorials.
Residents said physical monuments in accessible places that they could walk around and interact with would be the most appropriate way to remember and reflect on the pandemic.
This community consultation led to RIG Arts' collaboration with local volunteer group Walk As One and artist Alan Potter to co-design a series of local Inverclyde labyrinths.
Work on the memorials started on March 25 after approval from the council's environment and regeneration committee.
RIG Arts chief executive Karen Orr said: "We wanted to be a part of Remembering Together because we believe in the importance of reflection on the impact of Covid and empowering communities to creatively mark this period in their own special and unique way.
"We were delighted to have this opportunity to work with the wider population, and honoured to be able to represent their concepts."
*Alison and the team are trying to raise £3,000 to install a labyrinth at Lunderston Bay.
To find out more email alison@compassionateinverclyde.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here