Aberdeenshire’s Mountain to Sea Covid memorial project concludes
A unique creative response to Scotland’s Covid Community Memorial Programme will be celebrated with a series of community events over six days.
The ambitious Aberdeenshire project has been taking shape over the last two years, led by a team of creatives in partnership with residents and community groups.
“From Mountain to Sea” marks the resilience, strength and creativity of local communities during the pandemic and was commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with greenspace scotland.
Lead artist, Claudia Zeiske, initially embarked on an extraordinary 250km walk from Ben MacDui to Peterhead, engaging with more than 200 residents and inviting them to share their personal experiences of the pandemic.
These heartfelt stories helped shape and inform a series of creative works that now stand as a symbol of hope and healing for the entire Aberdeenshire community, including:
• A new album by fiddler Paul Anderson: A collection of tunes that sensitively reflects the experiences of communities during the pandemic.
• A film short by filmmaker Paul Campbell: A captivating film that captures the sense of well-being experienced through outdoor exploration in the Aberdeenshire landscape.
• A Family of bespoke benches by craftsman Chris Nangle: Beautifully crafted wooden benches placed at key locations along the walking route, offering spaces for rest and reflection
• A new walking map: This newly designed map traces Claudia’s new walking route through the spine of Aberdeenshire, connecting the diverse communities and landscapes
To mark the project's conclusion, Claudia will be touring towns and villages across Aberdeenshire between November 11-16 to give people an insight into this ambitious project.
They will provide an opportunity to bring people together to share insights into the stories, music, film and artwork which appeared throughout this meaningful journey.
Everyone is welcome to attend these free events and participate in this celebration of community spirit and resilience.
Councillor Anne Stirling, chairwoman of Aberdeenshire Council’s communities committee, said: “This project reminds us all of the importance of wellbeing and community as foundations of our strength.
“From music and film to gathering spaces along the walking route, every element of this project highlights Aberdeenshire’s spirit and our commitment to each other.”
Avril Nicol, head of service for communities wellbeing and partnership, said: “The Mountain to the Sea initiative isn’t just a commemorative project, it’s a celebration of life, resilience, and community.
“The diversity of creative works from this project captures the beauty of Aberdeenshire’s landscapes and the resilience of its people.
“As we reflect on the past few years, this project stands as a symbol of healing and inspiration for the future."
Visit https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/ for more information about the project and the upcoming events.
