ELLON sculptor Stefanie Horne has won this year's BP Fine Art Award at Gray's Degree Show with an exhibition featuring a replica wall from McDonald Park.
Entitled Indications, Stefanie's project was inspired by the traces of existence that all of us leave during our time on the planet and the proof of our involvement with society during our lifetime.
Part of the project focused around a dyke in Mc
Donald Park where she enlisted the help of local residents on a dry stone dyking course.
Stefanie explained: "In the week before the course I met up with each participant, used their silhouette to carve a figure based on them into a stone from the dyke. These stones were then returned to the dyke during the one day course, each person returning the stone that related to them."
She added: "In addition to creating an opportunity to further restore the dykes within McDonald Park, the art project was intended to give those involved a sense of ownership of the area and to aid participants and other members of the community to take greater interest in the woodland and its conservation.
"The stones themselves will act as indications of those peoples' involvement with the area. These will survive as symbols of their contribution to the woodland, which may again be uncovered when the dykes once more need restoration in another 180 years."
The wall was replicated in her exhibition at the degree show and Stefanie was presented with a specially commissioned trophy and a cheque for £500 by Tim Smith, BP's Director of External Affairs.
Mr Smith commented: "BP is delighted to continue our support of Gray's Degree Show to help showcase new talent and to reinforce the growing reputation for excellence in the arts in the North-east of Scotland.
"In the six years that BP has been involved with Gray's Degree Show we have been continually impressed by the standard of the students' work. This year has been no exception and choosing the winners was very difficult. The breadth of originality and creativity exhibited at the Show is of great credit to Gray's."
Professor Stuart MacDonald, Head of Gray's School of Art added: "BP's continued support provides an added dimension to the degree show and gives great encouragement to the new crop of talented artists and designers. The creative energy of Gray's students is particularly evident at this year's show and visitors will be able to see and purchase work of a very high standard."
