Sir James Colquhoun of Luss named Helensburgh after his wife, Lady Helen Colquhoun, in 1777. She was the daughter of William, Lord Strathnaver, son of John, 19th Earl of Sutherland. The controversial artwork on the new council building is claimed to be a representation of Lady Helen.
The artwork was commissioned from a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors at a cost of £15,000, financed from monies generated from the sale of the Templeton Library. Many in the town, including members of the council, were unsure who the piece was meant to represent. This seemed to fuel criticisms of the piece, including comparisons to the ogre Princess Fiona from the movie 'Shrek', and calls for it to be removed (one popular suggestion is to replace it with the Argyll and Bute Council coat of arms).
The piece is made of stainless steel bars bent to the countrours of the face, hair and water, and includes a sihouette skyline of Helensburgh along the bottom. According to the artist it can be interpreted as Lady Helen or the Clyde river goddess Clutha.
A council spokesman has been quoted in the press describing it as "open to interpretation".
Congratulations to Fra of FraSoSi on FTF! :D