Strathbungo street festival lights up a window on the world
A LOCH Ness monster and giant octopus’s tentacles are among the spectacular images residents created in their front windows as a part of a creative arts trail.
Hundreds of quirky scenes popped up over the weekend as people turned their flats into an outdoor gallery for one night only.
The community arts event titled “Winter Wanderland” was staged in Strathbungo, Glasgow, as the first of its kind in Scotland on Saturday evening.
Its aim was to encourage people to come outdoors for an evening walk around the neighbourhood. Organiser Sarah Reid, 36, said: “We asked people to create displays in their windows. It could be a very simple thing but also go as far as to have bands playing in the front rooms.
“We transformed the streets into a spectacular pop-up gallery and people were able to wander around and take it all in.
“The magic of the event was that we did not know what people were going to do until the night.
The mother-of-four added: “A hundred people signed up especially but more people took part. It’s the first time we’ve done it in Scotland.”
Artist Lucy Reeves first came up with the idea for Window Wanderland as she enjoyed looking into houses where the curtains were open.
The event began in the Bishopston area of Bristol in 2015 and it has grown with more and more houses and shops getting involved.
Residents were invited to think of ideas under the theme of a “magical world”.
Following the city’s successful trial, seven areas in the UK ran an event last year with a further 11 expected this year.
Earlier displays ranged from a Star Wars themed window feauring Darth Vader to one of a Giraffe.
Ms Reeves told the BBC: “I wanted to make an event that anyone can participate in, is easy to do, and creates something different.
“This brightens up the long winter nights giving everyone a great excuse to get outdoors. We have had displays made by schools, grandparents, even pets, some are silly, some are serious.
“It is a proper community event, some roads had almost every house participating, using campervans, top floor windows and even decorating hedges with lights.”