Iconic Burns
Location: Alloway, Ayrshire
Venue: Various
Dates: 24 January 2009 to 24 January 2009
The outdoor event, attended by over 1,000 people in Alloway, the birthplace of Robert Burns on Saturday 24th January was a visual feast. To launch Homecoming Scotland 2009, the village become a focal point for the Burns celebrations. Locations such as Burns Cottage, The Brig O’ Doon and The Auld Kirk were brought to life in a one-off extravaganza for this special year.
Some of the UK’s top lighting and design artists – Phil Supple, Graeme Gilmour as well as Mischief La Bas were brought together for this unique Burns tribute.
“It had elements of serious street theatre, no doubt, including a fine central image by designer and sculptor Graeme Gilmour, and world-class lighting by Phil Supple, which showed off the romantic good looks of the Alloway riverbank to terrific effect. It was in part a real cultural celebration; many people in the crowd were singing along with the Burns songs played by the bands, and seemed delighted to be in Alloway for the 250th anniversary of a poet truly loved in these parts…Last week’s event was good to look at, genuinely attentive to history, commendably free of kitsch, pleasant in atmosphere, and often artistically impressive; and there are hopes that Gilmour’s splendid sculpture will eventually be seen by a wider audience.” **** (4 stars) Joyce McMillan – The Scotsman
