Gaia

An awe-inspiring sculpture of Planet Earth which aims to make us think about our world in a new way is coming to Warrington’s Cultural Quarter.

Luke Jerram’s floating three-dimensional artwork, Gaia, will be in Parr Hall between 6 and 10 March. An imposing 7m in diameter, Gaia accurately depicts the Earth’s surface as it would be viewed from space using detailed NASA imagery.

Culture Warrington is again collaborating with world renowned artist Luke Jerram after he brought his hugely popular ‘Museum of the Moon’ – which has been seen by more than three million people in 25 countries – to Parr Hall in October 2019.

But unlike the Moon, which we have been gazing at for millennia, the first time humankind got to see Earth as a blue marble floating in space was in 1968 with NASA’s Apollo 8 mission.

For this project, Luke was commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council, the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres and Jodrell Bank’s Bluedot festival to communicate a sense of the fragility of our planet – and how urgently we need to protect it. 

The thought-provoking installation will be made even more atmospheric thanks to a surround sound composition created by BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones.

The sculpture got its name from Greek mythology in which Gaia is the personification of the Earth. Visitors will know what it is like for astronauts when they gaze at the planet with a new and profound understanding of the interconnection of all life.

It is hoped it will give people a renewed sense of purpose in taking care of the environment, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic which has reminded us that we all have a responsibility toward one another.

There will also be a number of events taking place in the shadow of the ‘planet’ over the five days.

Kicking it all off will be Stronger Together – an Arts Council supported and environmentally-themed contemporary dance production choreographed by Stacey Atkinson.

A cohort of 38 professional and community dancers and undergraduate dance students from Salford University will be performing beneath Gaia at 6pm on the Sunday.

They will be performing to a new piece of music specially commissioned for the event by Gary Lloyd.

Stacey, who has been supported by facilitators Bettina Carpi, Maria Mortimor, Dina Robinson and Elisa McCauley as well as costume designer Enya Koster, added: “This is such an exciting and unique opportunity. To be choreographing a dance piece to be performed under the internationally renowned installation, Gaia, feels so incredibly important at such a crucial time for our planet.

“Creating a piece of dance that looks at this has been extremely eye-opening, moving and touching at times. I feel so incredibly lucky to have been involved in this connection of dance, art and music.

“What I hope for from this performance is that the Warrington community gain more awareness and consideration as to how they can adapt and change their way of living to support the environmental sustainability of the planet. We can only make a positive impact by coming together, being united and being 'stronger together'.”

Culture Warrington has also teamed up with Independent Street Market on the launch day, Sunday, 6 March, to encourage people to make a day of it with a pop-up artisan market between 11am and 4pm and street food stalls and bars open until 10pm.

Or for something that is out of this world, how about some cosmic yoga? The Yoga Space will be hosting a one-hour workshop themed around the Earth at 6pm on Tuesday, 8 March.

Then on Thursday, 10 March, Cameron Brown will lead a drawing workshop under Gaia at 7.30pm.

The event will bring back memories for the Warrington artist as he won Art Battle Manchester under Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon in the same venue at the Contemporary Arts Festival 2019.

The floating artwork got its name from Greek mythology in which Gaia is the personification of the Earth.

Visitors will know what it is like for astronauts when they gaze at the planet with a new and profound understanding of the interconnection of all life.

It is hoped it will give people a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic which has reminded us that we have a responsibility toward one another.

Gaia will be in Parr Hall between 6 and 10 March and will be free to view. To book to see Gaia or to attend any of the ticketed events visit parrhall.culturewarrington.org