Taking a World View at Lancaster Priory
Above: The Vicar of Lancaster, the Rev Leah Vasey-Saunders welcomes Gaia to the Priory
Life on earth was celebrated at Lancaster Priory this summer with the arrival of a spectacular global artwork.
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aia, which was displayed at COP26 in Glasgow last year, revolved from the Priory rafters for three weeks, attracting thousands of visitors. Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia – the personification of the earth, according to Greek mythology - features the detailed NASA imagery of the earth’s surface. The artwork, created by Luke Jerram, is 1.8 million times smaller than the real earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 18km of the earth’s surface. By standing 211m away from Gaia, 40
visitors could see the earth as it appears from the moon. The Vicar of Lancaster, the Rev Leah Vasey-Saunders said: “Gaia gives us a fresh perspective on our planet and on its people. I hope that every visit to Lancaster Priory during the festival month inspired a sense of awe.” It took three days to prepare the Priory for Gaia. As in 2019, a historic 18th Century candelabra was removed and this year, for the first time since they were installed around 1860, ten pews were also moved to allow a temporary floor to be installed. To celebrate Gaia’s time in Lancaster, an extensive events programme reflected on the weekly themes of community, nature, sustainability and home.
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
Musical performances, lectures, yoga, tai chi and Qigong sessions were just some of the other events which took place under the Earth sculpture during its stay and among the highlights were the Blue Moon Band, a Night at the Opera and the King’s Men choral scholars from King’s College, Cambridge. These events were supported by Lancaster BID, Oglethorpe, Sturton and Gillibrand, Mazuma, ICT Reverse and the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund. To complement Gaia, in St Nicholas Chapel, there was the premiere of Four Rivers, an audio and film experience, reflecting the sounds of Morecambe Bay produced by Syrian artist and Lancaster University student, Aous Hamoud. www.lancmag.com
