Salmon above the Flood

Inverurie had little in the way of outdoor public art until a few years ago when folk like Helen Denerley and in the case of this sculpture, Alison Simpson began to receive commissions to make and erect pieces in the streets of the town.
There is a somewhat poignant Scottish Soldier in the square in front of the town hall with the names of locals who went away never to return but unless you count all those Pictish stones I would be hard put to think of much more.
This piece is engraved with fine quotes, collected from the community. Some are in Scots some in English and one in Latin.
Comin, goin toin froin locomotion.
A fine wee shoorie cam doon frae Inverurie.
Shop & shop & shop & shop.
St Apollinaris and the dam.
Bruce crossed the stanners an'wis home an'dry.
The meetin o' the waters.
Built ower a midden.
My best mates are here...
Snuff mill meal mill paper mill.
Garioch spirit harvesting the best from people.
A gey like toon.
Urbs in rure.

Alison was seemingly inspired by the tale of the Picts placing a stone carved with a salmon in the River Don at the safest crossing point 'the Stanners'. When the salmon could be seen, the ford was passable; when the fish was not visible, the water was too deep and there was some danger of death. Bit of Pictish health and safety I suppose.
I have some doubts about this however I do like the piece and after all, what's wrong with a little flirt with fiction as a back story.
If you want to see this, its in Burn Lane just opposite the Carnegie Library.
I suspect that both Burns and Carnegie would have loved to have seen it.