Following the initial consultation with children the artists all met to create a 3d layout of the island made from scrap paper and bits of junk (recycling at all times!).  Lead artist Jim Buchanan took these ideas and developed them into the Island Masterplan.

Becky Sik, Maria McCavana, Kim Moore and Darren Wilson then worked in Anderston, Sighthill and Govan with children to develop ideas for specific art works for the island.

In Anderston, Becky and the children explored dens and shelters; kinetic energy and communication. Maria looked at collections and cabinets of curiosities.

In Govan there were sonic walks and songwriting workshops. These sounds were then used to create the Soundscape for the Sound Forest.  Sound Forest Music from the Baby Speaker

Becky and Kim collaborated together to design the physical sound installation and the designs of the children from Anderston were incorporated into the bikes and the speakers. The collaboration stretched as far as the US when Kim made contact with a project in Americafor top tips on the blinging of the bikes.

Meanwhile in Sighthill the children were trying to find out the identity of the Secret Gardener creating designs for the Secret Gardener’s paddock garden and planting their own plants.

Artist Rachel Mimiec worked in Yorkhill and Anderston to create artwork for around the island. From island design workshops with 2 year olds to flower crocheting with 82 year olds!

It was then the artist’s responsibilities to interpret and develop these ideas to create the works on the island.

So because children wanted rainbows we have a rainbow field; their sounds and music form the voice of the island, their plants grow and the museum collection increases with their wonderous creations.

As the project progresses, the island continues to flourish and grow with the imaginations and curiosity of the children who inspired it and the families who explore it each day.

The Hive

For the opening weekend I received a visit from Johnny’s Garden and a special bee hive built for the island so that our explorers could see inside a working hive (see left).

This special hive was home to 30,000 honey bees and of course every hive needs a head of the household – the Queen Bee. The bees were brought onto the island and introduced to their hive on Friday 1^st July.

On Saturday, Norton and Michael from Johnny’s Garden had loads of questions about the bees and explorers planted bee friendly plants to encourage the bees to create Forgotten Island honey.

And then on Sunday, there was a rebellion! The bees swarmed out of their new hive and headed over to the reef with the Queen bee to set up a new hive amongst the cobbles. Michael and Norton tried to tempt them back but they were having none of it and instead set up home in a cardboard box!

So, now we have two hives. The breakaway camp on the reef who are now housed in their own wooden hive and the few hundred bees left in the original hive who we hope are feeding up a new Queen bee.

Royal Jelly for breakfast anyone?

Johnny’s Garden will be resident on the island every Saturday for more bee related insights and fun.

As predicted by my friends at Island Location Services, Giant and local
Glasgow children, The Forgotten Island did in fact appear on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow on Saturday the 2nd July! Watch this short film documenting the island’s arrival:

Time flies when you are preparing for an island to appear! I can hardly believe it has come around so quickly but this weekend will see the appearance of The Forgotten Island in Glasgow!

To celebrate the arrival of the island I am going to let the first 50 explorers to visit the island on Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th of July in for FREE ! Good Luck explorers!

(free tickets will be given on a first come, first serve basis each day at The Forgotten Island on-site box office)

The theme is of this years Recycle Week is ‘recycling home and away’. Although home to a great many friendly insects I would class the island as ‘away’ but more importantly as a place that has recycling/reusing at it’s very core.

When the island appears it will be a growing space made from natural and recycled materials. Everything to do with the island (landscape, artworks, day to day running) has been developed with the environment in mind. Not only that but throughout the summer explorers will have the opportunity to get involved in a range of activities incorporating the themes of creativity, play, nature and sustainability. When the island disappears in September the materials and plants used in creating the space will be recycled yet again as they are gifted to local communities and projects.

Want to get involved in recycling? I notice that the fab folks at Recycle Now have created this tool so you can find out what things can be recycled near you!  Recyclenow