Collection: Kelpies in a Rig (American Scottish Folklore and Photographs)

Kelpies in a Rig

Rising up in the central valley of Scotland, the Kelpies appear like steel sentinels. 

In NY, scaling the skyline they surface ethereally against the shining glass and steel of the skyscrapers. 

From mischievous foals to living landmarks, the Kelpies transport us like eddies in time to a different age. 

In Scotland, the 100ft steel sculptures stand at the crossroads between the east and west and the land and the sea. 

They represent the clash between nature and development. 

The Charlotte Dundas steamboat, replacing the Clydesdale horses the Kelpies are based on: horse power for steam power. 

In NY, they stood in Bryant Park with the New York Public behind them, bridging the gap between work and knowledge. 

Are they still spiritual warnings about the dangers of the deep or are they symbolic of the environmental crisis we face today and how a slower world is possible? 

About the Exhibition

The exhibition has 3 parts: Falkirk, NY and the canal. 

Start your journey in Falkirk with photographs of the Kelpies in black and white.

Then enjoy the video of the stunning views along the canal and over the Forth Valley from the canal path. The same path walked by the Clydesdales as they towed the barges to Edinburgh. 

Step in to the main gallery and view The Kelpies Foals in Bryant Park, NY. The maquettes visited NY as part of Tartan Week, the US and Canada celebration of Scottish ancestry.

About the Photographs and Videos

The exhibition was curated and photographed by Sharon McMenemy Khan and Barry Lorimer. Sharon took the photographs of the foals in NY in 2014 while she was living there. Barry joined Sharon on a visit to the Kelpies in Falkirk this year. He chose to shoot in black and white. The footage of the canal was shot over the year while Sharon cycled it.

Gallery Hours (local & Fringe)

The gallery is open to walk-in during July. The local hours are available by day on our events page here.

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You can book a ticket for festival hours on the fringe website here. 

The Kelpies represent both the history of Scottish canal horses and the mythology of seahorses. Learn more about their story.