2013 Edinburgh Marathon Festival – Edinburgh Airport installs marathon artwork

Edinburgh Airport is working with a local artist to help encourage passengers to get into the running spirit ahead of this weekend's Edinburgh Marathon Festival.

Damian Callan has installed 'The Dalry marathon', a 10-metre charcoal sketch of runners and spectators, in the airport's departure lounge. The installation coincides fittingly with the Edinburgh Marathon Festival which takes place this Saturday and Sunday.

The drawing has been a work in progress since October last year where Damian sketched models in his Dalry-based studio. Now, in order to complete the piece, he will use the many passengers travelling through the airport as his inspiration. Damian will be adding to the drawing live on Friday and Monday – capturing the atmosphere before and after the marathon weekend.

Scotland's busiest airport is set to welcome thousands of runners and spectators over the next few days and this unique artwork will take pride of place in the airport's very own art gallery.

Jan Riley has managed The Airport Gallery for a number of years and has exhibited numerous paintings, sketches and jewellery. Indeed, a piece by Damian was the first to be sold at the gallery.

Damian's marathon drawing will be exhibited in the airport for two weeks before hopefully being sold for charity.

Speaking about his piece, Damian said: “I’ve had art exhibited at the airport gallery before but this time I wanted to create something which was new and more performance related. I’m very interested in getting people involved and interacting with my work and an airport provides the best venue for this.

“Art, like running, is available to everyone, regardless of age or ability. However, after you’ve done a 10 metre charcoal drawing, it feels like you’ve already run a marathon.”

Sarah Gardiner, Head of Terminal Operations, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for Edinburgh Airport to support its local artists and provide an excellent platform for artwork on this scale to be shown to the public.

"We are delighted that it has coincided with the Edinburgh Marathon Festival where we will see a large number of runners and supporters passing through our terminal.  We hope everyone in the departure lounge will take a moment to view this stunning piece of artwork. It's exciting to know that Damian will be continuing to add to the drawing at the airport using our passengers as inspiration for his art."

Neil Kilgour, Edinburgh Marathon Festival Race Director, said: "Edinburgh Marathon Festival has it all – a great city that acts as a stunning backdrop to the event’s proceedings and a programme of races that means that everyone is catered for from children to marathon veterans.

“We are looking forward to welcoming runners from all over the world this weekend to Scotland’s capital. There are more than 1,000 international runners competing in the Edinburgh Marathon alone with runners from America to Austria, Belguim to Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Norway, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and Sweden all playing a proud part in the race. For many Edinburgh Airport will be their gateway to Scotland’s capital city so we welcome Damian’s marathon artwork and can’t wait to see the results.”

Further information from:

Stuart Young, Edinburgh Airport, 0131 348 4213 or stuart_young@edinburghairport.com

About Edinburgh Airport:

Edinburgh Airport is Scotland's busiest airport. More than 40 airlines serve 100-plus destinations and some 9.2 million passengers a year pass through the airport – figures which are set to grow as Scotland's international connections develop.

It is the 6th largest in the UK and employs over 5000 people, contributing hundreds of millions of pounds to Scotland’s economy.

www.edinburghairport.com

 

About Damian Callan:

Damian Callan was born in London in 1960 and initially trained as a scientist. In 1995 he achieved a BA Honours degree in Drawing and Painting from Edinburgh College of Art. He later returned to Edinburgh as a part-time tutor, which led to doing part-time tutoring at Leith School of Art and The National Galleries of Scotland.  During his career as an artist Damian Callan has won scholarships to Prague, Toulouse and Tuscany and was artist-in-residence at Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh. Currently Damian Callan teaches art classes and spends the rest of the week on his own art work.

Damian Callan is particularly interested in the moving figure, athletes, swimmers and gymnasts. He often uses his children as models for his paintings. His loose style and the free brushstrokes of his drawings and finished oils capture the life and exuberance of children on holiday.

www.damiancallan.com

 

 

Source:  Edinburgh Marathon Festival