SIGNS OF THE TIMES
This section aims to capture the quirky, innovative, emotive, historical and other signs. Records of a society that don't quite fit in anywhere else.
Very helpful. Just in case you hadn't noticed. "CAUTION DEEP MUD".
Need we say more?
Signs come in a great many forms. This one on a pebble left on a picnic table next to the Leven shows that someone cares, even if they have never met you. A thoughful gesture if you are feeling down.
Do you know where this one is? It is a public building in Dumbarton. It is but one climbed by adventurous youth. The problem is not just that of damage to a building, but danger to those involved.
"Wet" paint sign seen in Hillfoot in Renton. Huh!? Hope it was noticed before someone got black paint from the railings on them. But what about the white paint on one's shoes?
An old Alexandria Pigeon Club sign in Alexander Street. This is on the old club house. itself rare as a timber building. Now the hobby is also becoming less popular and pigeons are seen as a pest rather than a prized possession.
Some signs are personal although very evidently meant to be public. This one on the railway embankment along the Leven is moving, albeit confusing.
The tow path along the Leven is one of several places that suffers a great deal from gaffiti, some simply naive and crude; much really quite disgusting. The Council come in and remove it. Quite what is "public art" or even "historical" sentiment is very subjective. Graffiti is even a subject often put as somthing to analyse on conservation or art courses at university level. How should we react to the following?
Havoc Hole. Daubed slogans have ranged from Yes to Scottish Independence to stop the developers destroying this historic and socially important site. There is actually no evidence that Wallace ever came to Havoc Hole, yet he retains a strong association with it.
Graffiti on the boulders below Dumbarton Rock. When is such daubing legitimate and when is it pure vandalism? When Historic Environment Scotland inspected graffiti on the Rock some years ago they had quite a lot removed. What was allowed to remain included markers for the bouldering club - and this, based on the hsitorical context. This has been here for many years, expressing strong support for Scotland's independence.
(That building in the background is now a historical memory; the Allied Distillery tower which remained long after the rest of the premises had been demolished).
When seeing this sign for the first time, it was suggested that this is as far as one could walk. (Get it?). Actually it refers to angling.
When is graffiti graffiti? The difference between what is acceptable or not seems to be based on maliciousness or perceived need. This is hardly satisfying clarity and the subject is often broad and confusing; always subjective. They should mean something other than rebelliousness and not mar the scene.
Signs appear on some paths such as this one on towpath along the Leven. They may be distance markers for races. This one is mystifying though and if misinterpreted appears to advocate fly-tipping. That is not the issue. The issue is that even comparatively "temporary" spray painted writing, still remains for months, sometimes over a year, is untidy and irresponsible.
Someone cares. Someone doesn't. The footpath up through Craigandro Wood from Renton towards 100 Steps and Carman Muir.
This sign is in Jamestown. Do we now need new signs asking for the old signs to be ketp clean?
Sometimes there is daft irony. TAKE A FRESH VIEW ... refers to the scene before you, in this case the Leven at Dumbarton, but with a decrepid boat hulk. Can't blame this on any volcano!!
