Details for Of Earth And Sky
Of Earth and Sky is a major new large-scale community art installation led by internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram. Set in over 20 locations across Gloucester it will showcase words and poetry from Gloucestershire residents in large and in many cases, touchable manifestations. The installations will appear throughout the city in open spaces and heritage sites across the city from the beginning of September.
Each artwork aims to be a direct representation of the Gloucester’s diverse communities. We’re connecting with schools, local communities and grassroots organisations and inviting them to join online poetry and spoken word workshops from mid July. The words represented in each artwork will be created in these workshops. The Gloucestershire born poet JPDL will be working with Luke Jerram to curate the submissions.
Bringing together standalone words and short lines of poetry, some of the art works will be stencilled and chalked into the landscape. Others will be designed to physically stand in the city and parks. You’ll be able to see the artworks at 20 locations across the city and they’ll be around for a minimum of 2 months. The sites for the artworks have been selected to ensure social distancing is possible at all times.
This exhibition follows Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon at Gloucester Cathedral in Autumn 2019 which received huge acclaim, attracted many people to visit, and played a key role in the gear-change of Gloucester’s cultural landscape.
The Very Reverend Stephen Lake, Dean of Gloucester said: “Gloucester Cathedral is proud to be a commissioning partner of this exciting new project for the city. Last year’s Museum of the Moon demonstrated the extraordinary power that world class visual art has to inspire people and this promises to be just as impactful. We are committed to supporting Gloucester’s developing cultural programme and look forward to collaborating with Luke Jerram once more.”
As society begins to cautiously emerge from the lockdown, there is more appreciation for local parks and green space for our wellbeing, mental and physical health.
This installation celebrates the city’s outdoor spaces and encourages people to look at Gloucester differently – to see the beauty in its heritage, its green spaces and to see their voices written large in the landscape.
Cllr. Steve Morgan, cabinet member for Culture and Leisure at Gloucester City Council said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Luke Jerram on this exciting project. It will be a beautiful way for the words of Gloucestershire residents to be read and heard. By taking cultural activity out across the city as well as the city centre we hope to help bring people back out of their homes so that they can once again start to enjoy all that Gloucester has to offer”
Call Out for Your Poetry!
If you’re based in Gloucestershire, we are seeking your original words and poetry for this new art project. Find out more at OfEarthAndSky.co.uk
