A new stained glass window in Cardenden is lighting up stories from the past, in more ways than one.
Unveiled at Ore Valley Housing Association’s offices, the artwork is the result of eight months of work by a group of local residents.
The community project involved over 40 participants of all ages and backgrounds and was delivered in collaboration with the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) and stained glass artist and tutor Keira McLean.
Colin McInnes, deputy CEO at Ore Valley, said: "The beautiful stained glass window now proudly displayed in our Cardenden office has been made possible through a strong and valued partnership between Ore Valley Housing, the WEA, and Keira.
"Their combined support, expertise and commitment to community learning along with the skills and effort of all the participants have allowed this project to shine - quite literally."
The window tells the stories of Auchterderran, Bowhill, Cardenden and Dundonald - the ABCD villages - from the perspective of the people who live there.
Among the many things explored in the window is the legacy of mining and pit closures, the impact of women in the community and the campaigns still being fought by residents today.
Learners visited historic sites, created new writing and recorded each other's oral histories and memories as material for the window design.
The group then learned various glass techniques like traditional painting and etching to find the best way to represent their stories.
A spokesperson for Ore Valley Housing said that one of the learners has shown real aptitude and interest in the craft and he is now apprenticing with Keira one day a week at her studio in Glasgow.
The window now stands as a tribute to community history, creativity and collaboration.
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