A vibrant mural project has united residents of all ages in a community.
Two stunning pieces of artwork have been created at Dunterlie Resource Centre in Barrhead by mural artist Stephen Machin aka Mack Colours in collaboration with locals.
The initiative, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, combined creativity, local history and community pride and also sparked new conversations and connections.
Many people got involved by helping to design and paint the murals, but young people played a central role - contributing ideas and exploring their community through design sessions which had a strong focus on ensuring they felt recognised in a centre many have grown up in.
Cara Docherty from Dunterlie Action Group (DAG) said: “This project has been something different for a lot of people around here.
“The discussions and creativity that came from the design process, along with learning about local history, has been really unexpected and inspiring.”
Jane McCann from Dunterlie Youth Groups, meanwhile, said it has been “really special” seeing how the young people have responded.
“Seeing how proud they are of their contributions has been truly heart-warming,” she added.
The murals were created after DAG put out a plea last November for a socially engaged artist to create two weather-resistant murals to celebrate the centre and brighten up its exterior.
The centre hosts a wide range of groups, from babies and toddlers to youth, arts, and craft programs, and a mural completed 25 years ago provided a strong sense of community.
The new project aimed to build on this legacy while involving long-term residents in the design process.
The community is invited to celebrate the resulting two pieces of artwork at a launch event, hosted by DAG, this Saturday (June 20) from 1pm to 3pm at Dunterlie Community Centre.
The event will showcase the murals, share their development, and celebrate the collective effort behind them.
Free macaroni cheese will be served in honour of artist Stephen, affectionately renamed “Mac and Cheese” by local young people.
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Stephen said: “The phoenix mural was a collaboration between myself and the community after a series of creative workshops and story sharing.
“As we talked about Dunterlie, its history and the people who called it home, the same themes of resilience and rising above life’s challenges as a community came through the stories.
“Spending the last six months in Dunterlie I was able to see that this feeling of strong community still exists today.
“The mural represents the community rising up together, with the phoenix holding the bell that was used to alert the community during the poll tax protests."
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to have had the opportunity to help create these artworks alongside the community," he added.
“Their stories and memories of Dunterlie helped shape the murals and gave me a clear vision for them.”
The murals have been getting great feedback, explained Rena McGuire BEM, DAG’s chair.
“People really love the phoenix," she added.
"My knitting group loved being part of the process too, sharing stories and even doing a wee bit of spray painting.
"It brought everyone together."
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