AS Glasgow bids farewell to Banksy’s Cut and Run Exhibition, say hello to ... Stanksy.
Pupils at Sunnyside Primary in Craigend have taken inspiration from the famous artist to help promote their anti-litter #DrainCampaign.
The children often carry out beach clean-ups, and were horrified to learn rubbish dropped on Glasgow’s streets can be carried through drains, into the Clyde and on to the ocean or Loch Long.
They created some sassy Scottish sealife characters, including Crabbit Crab, Scunnered Seal and Fumin’ Fulmar, and have been stencilling them next to drains, or stanks, on city streets.
Kaelan, Brooke, Fallon and Dexter, four of the Sunnyside Ocean Defenders at Sunnyside Primary, explained: “One of our main campaigns over the years has been against cetaceans (dolphins, whales and porpoises) being kept in captivity.
“We particularly liked Banksy's orca exhibition in Dismaland as it represents how we feel about cetaceans being captured and kept or bred in captivity for human entertainment.”
They added: “We have been working with Glasgow City Council to have these animals stencilled next to drains to educate people about what can happen to the litter they drop.
“We have been inspired by Banksy's work and his confidence to take on issues that aren't being dealt with.
“We are going to use the hashtag #Stanksy for our drain work, and we hope he appreciates the humour of this.”
Over the years, Sunnyside’s campaigns have included #NaeStrawAtAw, which convinced Glasgow City Council to stop using plastic straws, CalMac to take them off their ferry fleet and Muller to change the plastic straw on the school milk cartons to a paper one.
The children also successfully persuaded Glasgow to introduce a ban on mass balloon and lantern releases.
Kaelan, 11, said: “The Banksy exhibition was awesome. He inspired us. We want to tell people that stuff that goes down the drain goes into the ocean and harms marine life.”
Dexter, 11, said: “Why he’s chosen certain places and certain things for his art is very inspiring.”
Fallon, 10, added: “I think it was really good but some of it was quite sad. It definitely inspired me to come out here. We want people to stop littering because it ends up in the seas and rivers and animals are dying.”
Brooke, 10, said: “I thought it was really thrilling. We need to care and change for our animals like we do for our humans, we need to stop the litter from getting into our oceans because it ruins their home as well.”
Councillor Christina Cannon, the city’s education convener, said: “Cut and Run has been brilliant for the city, and I think it is amazing that the Sunnyside Ocean Defenders are capitalising on the success to teach people a valuable lesson about littering and the impact it can have.
“Watch out for a #Stanksy coming to a drain near you…”
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