"The Kelpies" at Bryant Park

Andy Scott’s monumental sculpture “The Kelpies,” comprised of two 15-foot horse heads, are currently on display in Bryant Park (Sixth Avenue) in midtown Manhattan. The exhibition is part of the annual Tartan Week. “The artistry and architectural scale of “The Kelpies” pay homage to Scotland’s history, now creatively celebrated in artistic form for the modern day,” Scott says. His original 100-foot monumental sculptures, depicting supernatural water horses from Celtic folklore, remain in the Helix, a massive outdoor park and amusement area midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. “The Kelpies" will be on display through April 22. 

2008 TARTAN DAY PARADE: the "little ones"

I made images of adorable "little ones" during the Tartan Day Parade earlier this afternoon on 6th Avenue. Pipers, drummers, pipe bands, organizations, and proud Westies & Scotties participated in Tartan Week's main event - New York's National Tartan Day Parade -- the largest Scottish celebration in Manhattan and one of the largest Scottish parades in the world. Unique among parades, the NY Tartan Day Parade features full pipe bands and individual pipers and drummers from around the world. Last year’s parade participants hailed from Scotland, Australia, Canada, England, France, Switzerland, Pakistan and the U.S.

DRESSED TO KILT

Today marks the beginning of TARTAN WEEK in New York, a week-long spirited celebration of Scottish culture. I checked out the "Scottish Village" in Grand Central's Vanderbilt Hall earlier today. There are shops selling a variety of authentic Scottish goods like food and clothing. Part of the daily schedule are Scottish fashion show, flim screening, cooperage (making oak barrels or casks) demonstration by distillery workers, and live music including a performance by the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Pipe Band. Pictured above, well at least in part, is one of the members of the band. In addition to the Scottish Village activities, there are other exciting events at different venues detailed at tartanweekny.com.