Revealed: Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games souvenirs

A GOLDEN pendant of a demolished tenement, a jelly mould based on an iconic restaurant and a series of medals based on Tunnocks tea cakes are among the novel souvenirs being developed for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014.

Six award-winning designs, created by artists working with local manufacturers are being developed to create top quality ‘gallus’ souvenirs - which it is hoped will become precious objects in their own right.

The six prototype souvenirs were unveiled by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop today and will be on public display at the People’s Palace until January.

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The MSP said the Scotland Can Make It series addressed “what seemed to me to be a real ‘gap’ in terms of the availability of truly imaginative, high quality, innovative and, indeed, gallus ‘souvenirs’ that say so much about our creativity, our craftsmanship and our commitment to innovation and design”.

The designs which have been chosen for the series also include a collection of travel rugs, a set of ‘home’ and ‘away’ scarves and an app which features a piece of music which changes when played at different geograpical locations across the city.

Each of the items will be manufactured in Scotland, in conjunction with companies including Highland Stoneware. and Johnstons of Elgin.

Artist Claire Duffy, who worked with Tunnocks on the special edition medal themed cakes said she had been inspired by working with such a well-known Scottish brand. “Best of all the medals are an easily affordable souvenir that everyone can enjoy - and we all know someone that deserves a medal.”

Neil McGuire and Marianne Anderson, who created the Golden Tenement, said the work “investigates urban regeneration and displacement and explores how ideas of ‘city’ and ‘nation’ are perpetuated through ‘mega events’ such as London 2012 and Glasgow 2014”.

Beca Lipscombe and Lucy McKenzie of Atelier EB, which produced the travel rugs said their aim was to create “a memento which is not embellished with corporate logos” - but which could still “evoke a memorable, cherished place or even for those who experienced it”.

Exhibition curator Lucy McEachan said: “Scotland Can Make It is a project to create six souvenirs inspired by London 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in 2014.”

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The idea is to make each of the souvenirs available in time for the Commonwealth Games and to give sports fans an alternative to mass produced mementoes.

Co-curator Catriona Duffy said the idea was to challenge the notion of souvenir.

“What people would be most used to would be mass produced merchandise - key rings and coasters and an image of Scotland which is either based on the romantic landscape or on tartan.

“What we were trying to do was to create a different type of souvenir that thinks about the place of its making and the quality of its production.”

The title Scotland Can Make It references Britain Can Make It - a major exhibition of industrial and product design held in London in 1946.

Iain Munro, director of creative development at Creative Scotland said: “Scotland Can Make It offers a great platform to showcase our creative ad manufacturing talent to national and international audiences during two major events; the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The exhibition will be a highlight of the Year of Creative Scotland - a chance for us to support, showcase and celebrate Scotland’s creativity.”

GLASGOW 2014 SOUVENIRS

Home/Away Woven Scarves

Emyln Firth and Angharad McLaren working with Johnstons of Elgin Grey

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Scarves with a geometric design and the initials h and a - standing for ‘home’ and ‘away’. The idea was to create a “parallel graphic identity - which would provide an alternative to branded sportswear.”

Tunnock’s Medals

Claire Duffy with Tunnocks

Special edition three packs of Tunnock’s tea cakes with restyled packaging to represent bronze, silver and gold medals. The special packs also contain Tunnocks medals - which can be presented to the special people in your life.

Commonwealth jelly mould

Katy West with Highland Stoneware and Rogano Oyster Bar

A stoneware jelly mould inspired by the art deco interior of Rogano’s restaurant and cocktail bar. Head chef of Rogano’s Andy Cumming has also created three exclusive jelly recipes.

Great Circle audio visual app

Found with Chemikal Underground

Edinburgh arts collective Found working with Chemikal Underground have created a souvenir app with music which plays differently depending on where you listen to it. They say the music will be like : “an audiovisual postcard of Glasgow.’

The Golden Tenement

Neil McGuire and Marianne Anderson with Carlton Die Casting and Jewellery Prototyping Services

A gold plated model of a tenement at Ardenlea Street, Dalmarnock, which was pulled down to make way for the Commonwealth Games athletes’ village. The work explores the way big sporting events change cities.

How D’You Know Me? Fade to Gres Emma - travel blankets

Atelier EB and Marc Camille Chaimowicz with Begg Scotland and McCrostie of Glasgow

Three woven travel blankets which roll up and tie with a leather strap. The work has been created by a design studio working with a textile company and a Glasgow saddler.