A bronze maternal figure rises tree-like from the ground with children, symbolising the growth and aspirations of the New Town.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1965
- Architect / designer
- Benno Schotz
- Type
- Large figurative public sculpture
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB51794)
- OS grid reference
- NO 27481 00921
Architecture and continuing use
Manganese bronze over a metal frame creates an upward-moving group. Three children are carried high while further abstracted figures cling around the base, making the sculpture read differently from every side.
Its story
Benno Schotz completed the work in 1965 as Glenrothes's first major public-art commission. Its shortened Latin title draws on the development corporation's motto, linking new life to the town's mining origins.
Why it is included
Major authorship, early date, symbolic programme and a prominent public setting earned the work Category B status.
What to notice
- The maternal figure merging visually with a tree trunk.
- Children distributed between shoulders and base.
- The sculptor's signature in relief.
Reading the surroundings
The work stands in the public realm near Church Street. View from paths without climbing on the sculpture or entering planted areas.
Timeline
- 1965 Benno Schotz installed Glenrothes's first large civic sculpture.
- 1968 The development corporation formalised its wider Town Artist experiment.
- 2011 Listing recognised the work's architectural and cultural importance.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The artwork is outdoors and normally visible, but landscaping or conservation work may affect close approach.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Ex Terra, LB51794 — Designation category, mapped location, date, fabric, authorship and architectural or historical interest.
- Fife Art Trail — Current presentation of Glenrothes Town Art as an outdoor public collection and visitor trail.
Location
OS grid reference NO 27481 00921 · Location confidence: High: the statutory designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference and the current source confirms the Place relationship or present identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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