Luke Jerram’s GAIA, an installation that features 120dpi (Dots Per Inch) detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface, is being brought to Keele Chapel at Keele University by arts organisation Appetite and the University’s arts programme, ArtsKeele this November.
The artwork, which measures six metres in diameter, can be seen at Keele Chapel on the Keele University campus from Saturday 6 to Saturday 27 November. Audience members will be able to visit GAIA Monday to Friday by dropping in, though capacity is limited and it will be first come first served. When visiting at the weekend audiences will be able to book a free slot online, with bookings opening Wednesday 27 October. There will also be a programme of surrounding events to complement the installation that audiences will be able to purchase tickets for, full details of which will be announced soon.
The installation will give audiences the opportunity to see the Earth as it might be seen from space, also known as the Overview Effect. This new perspective of the planet allows the audience to think about their place on the planet and remind them of the responsibility that people have to protect it.
Artist Luke Jerram specialises in the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts projects. GAIA follows on from Museum of the Moon which was brought to King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent in 2018.
A specially made surround sound composition will be played alongside the sculpture, created by award-winning Composer Dan Jones. A full programme of events is also set to be announced which will take place beneath the stunning spectacle.
Appetite Director Gemma Thomas said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming another of Luke Jerram’s installations following the positive response to Museum of the Moon a few years ago and other works we’ve presented of his Play Me, I’m Yours and Lullaby. We hope that, following the past year, GAIA might be able to provide audiences with a new perspective of our place and relationship with the planet whilst enjoying the piece in Keele Chapel, a stunning space where we will also be hosting a programme of events and in a way that GAIA can be enjoyed and appreciated.”
Steph Wright of ArtsKeele said: “We are super excited to be working in partnership with Appetite to bring GAIA to Keele University campus. The installation will be one of the biggest events of our ArtsKeele calendar this season. We look forward to seeing visitors immerse themselves into this epic piece of art which will also provide a focal point for a range of programmed activities including concerts, creative sessions, lectures, wellbeing activity and the opportunity to just ‘be’ with Gaia.”
The installation of GAIA coincides with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), providing a timely reminder to exhibition visitors of the challenges the planet is currently facing.
Underneath stunning installation GAIA by Luke Jerram at Keele Chapel, Appetite and ArtsKeele are so excited to bring you a programme of events and activities.
GAIA is free to view however some of the activities below are ticketed and you will need to book in advance in order to attend.
To find out more about GAIA general viewing times take a look here. You can also find information on transport and accesshere.
You can listen to an audio description about events taking place beneath GAIA here.
Sunday 7 October
7pm God’s Good Earth Service at Keele Chapel
Keele Chapel share a special service of prayer and reflection underneath GAIA during Keele University’s COP26 Festival.
Find out more about the service here.
Limited space available.
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Monday 8 November
1pm – 3pm Peace by Dan Thompson: drop in letterpress activity
Peace is an on-going series of projects by artist and Appetite Newcastle Common artist-in-residence Dan Thompson. During his residency in Newcastle Common, Dan will be exploring the story of Newcastle-born pacifist and author Vera Brittain through her connection with the town and remembering her paper-making ancestry.
Join Dan underneath GAIA for this special drop-in letterpress activity.
Free.
Booking not required.
Limited space available.
………………………………………………
Tuesday 9 November
6pm A (very) brief history of planet Earth
with Dr Steven Rogers, Lecturer in Geology, Keele University
GAIA represents a modern snapshot of our 4.54billion year old planet (give or take 50million years). This talk will launch you through geological time, highlighting some of the major events to have occurred across that period. We will talk about orbital bombardment, evolution, climate change, continental drift, mass extinctions and more, and reflect on how understanding our planet’s past can help us understand our present – and predict it’s future…
BSL interpretation will be available during this performance.
Free.
Book via Keele University here.
Limited space available.
………………………………………………
Wednesday 10 November
9am – 10am Yoga under GAIA
In these 3 sessions under GAIA, instructor Nicola Herd offers you the space to ‘earth’ yourself, connecting to your roots through standing practice and finishing with the support of mama earth as you rest in contemplation of her deeply nourishing presence.
All abilities and level of experience welcome. Yoga mats will be available to borrow if you do not have your own.
You are invited to experience a unique musical journey situated underneath Luke Jerram’s stunning GAIA. This remarkable installation is a mesmerising scale model of the Earth, and so the orchestra will play a trilogy of symphonies by Haydn that between them beautifully portray the Earth’s daily passage from dawn to dusk—hence their nicknames, which translate as ‘Morning’, ’Noon’, and ‘Evening’. Framed by a spine-tingling sunrise and a thrilling nocturnal storm, they feature a kaleidoscope of colours and pictures of life on Earth, evoked by virtuosic solos for every instrument in the orchestra, from flute to bassoon to double bass. The concert will also include a short conversation between John Warner, the orchestra’s conductor, Keele University staff and academics.
Tickets: Standard £16 | Students & 16 and under FREE
Book via Arts Keele here.
Limited space available.
………………………………………………
Friday 12 November
2pm – 4pm Grow your own microgreens with Ladybird Su
Join Ladybird Su and learn how to grow microgreens – a zero-food-miles salad you can grow on a window sill.
Print your own seed packet and take some seeds home to grow. A quick-growing garnish you can plant and enjoy now.
Activity for all ages.
Free.
Booking not required.
Limited space available.
………………………………………………
Saturday 13 November
1:30pm & 2:30pm FRONTLINEdance under GAIA
FRONTLINEdance’s Artistic Director has co-created a new, short piece of work in response to GAIA with a cast ranging from ages 12 to 80 years old from their participatory programmes Moving Stories & Breakthrou’dance. The group have danced together for just over a few weeks and have created movements in response to how precious the earth and each of us living on it is. They have really enjoyed the process and very much looking forward to performing to an audience for the first time in 2 years.
Free.
Book a free GAIA viewing ticket here to experience.
Limited space available.
………………………………………………
Sunday 14 November
3.30pm – 5.30pm Keele SU: Recycled Seed Stall
Grow your own garden under GAIA. Join Keele Students’ Union on Sunday 14 November to create your own seed plant. The SU will be providing seeds (dill, basil, mint, parsley, coriander, peppers), pots (recycled tin cans), and soil so you can create your own little garden for your accommodation or house.
Free.
Book a free GAIA viewing ticket here to experience.
Limited space available.
………………………………………………
Wednesday 17 November
9am – 10am Yoga under GAIA
In these 3 sessions under GAIA, instructor Nicola Herd offers you the space to ‘earth’ yourself, connecting to your roots through standing practice and finishing with the support of mama earth as you rest in contemplation of her deeply nourishing presence.
All abilities and level of experience welcome. Yoga mats will be available to borrow if you do not have your own.
A man at the front line of exploration and one of the world’s most experienced divers, field science and polar experts, Paul Rose helps scientists unlock and communicate global mysteries in the most remote and challenging regions of the planet. He was the Base Commander of Rothera Research Station, Antarctica, for the British Antarctic Survey for 10 years and was awarded HM The Queen’s Polar Medal. For his work with NASA and the Mars Lander project on Mt Erebus, Antarctica, he received the US Polar Medal. Paul is a mountain and polar guide leading Greenland Icecap crossing and mountaineering expeditions and polar science support logistics. On his 2012 Greenland expedition, Paul led the first expedition to successfully traverse a new 275km icecap route of Knud Rasmussen Land and repeated his first ascent of the north face of Gunnsbjørnfjeld, the highest mountain in the Arctic. A mountain has been named after him in Antarctica.
1pm – 3pm Keele SU: Crafternoon Special – Pom-Pom Animals
GAIA reminds us how precious our planet is and of everyone’s responsibility to help preserve the environment for future generations. In light of this, Keele Students Union will be focusing their regular Crafternoon session on Keele’s wonderful wildlife. Come along to make pom-pom squirrels, hedgehogs, birds and more and enjoy the atmospheric marvel that is GAIA. Open to public and students.
Free.
Booking not required.
Limited space available.
………………………………………………
Photo: Simon Tang
Saturday 20 November
11.30am & 1.30pm Sphera by Humanhood
Don’t miss this gorgeous duet from Humanhood exploring the relationship between the visible, bright side of the Moon and humankind here on Earth.
Lasts: 20 mins
Free.
Book a free GAIA viewing ticket here to experience.
Limited space available.
7pm Keele Bach Choir
Far beyond the stars: mindful choral music with Keele Bach Choir
Let Keele Bach Choir take you on a spiritual journey through the universe and eternity. Join them for a rich and varied programme of celestial music by heavenly composers from Palestrina to Stravinsky, including, among other bright stars, Purcell Rachmaninov and Brahms. A unique musical performance situated beneath GAIA.
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance, £5 for students, Under 17 free
Tickets required. Book via Keele Bach Choir here.
………………………………………………
Wednesday 24 November
9am – 10am Yoga under GAIA
In these 3 sessions under GAIA, instructor Nicola Herd offers you the space to ‘earth’ yourself, connecting to your roots through standing practice and finishing with the support of mama earth as you rest in contemplation of her deeply nourishing presence.
All abilities and level of experience welcome. Yoga mats will be available to borrow if you do not have your own.
OKIEM is an exceptional Pianist & Composer whose music is described as “cinematic classical”. He creates his signature sound by combining piano, orchestral instruments, and synthesisers. This unique wealth of experience with top class artists helps to shape his unique sound, compositions, and astounding live performance that continues to captivate his audiences. Okiem will be accompanied by the Infinity String Quartet for this performance under the stunning GAIA installation.
Tickets: Standard £16 | Students & 16 and under FREE
Tickets required. Book via Arts Keele here.
Limited space available.
………………………………………………
Photo: Jenny Harper
Thursday 25 November
3pm – 4.30pm Poems under GAIA: Poetry Workshop
Try your hand at poetry underneath GAIA. Join Staffordshire Poet Laureate Mel Wardle Woodend and Gabriella Gay in this poetry workshop open to all experience, levels and abilities.
BSL interpretation will be available during this event.
Free.
Book your tickets here.
Limited space available.
………………………………………………
Friday 26 November
12pm – 1pm Eco Book Club
To celebrate GAIA, Arts Keele and Appetite host the ‘GAIA Big Read’, a shared reading experience that celebrates GAIA’s understanding of the interconnections of all life. Join us throughout the exhibition as we read Dara McAnulty’s award-winning memoir Diary of a Young Naturalist.
Throughout the GAIA exhibition, members of the exhibition team will be sharing their thoughts as they read Diary of a Young Naturalist, and we will be encouraging you, our fellow readers to tweet along with your photos and thoughts @ArtsKeele @appetitestoke @GreenKeele using #GaiaBigRead.
The Big Read event will culminate with this book club underneath GAIA. Readers will have chance to share your thoughts on the book – and your reading experiences – whilst getting a unique perspective on GAIA (and enjoying some light refreshments!).
Free.
Book your tickets here.
Limited space available.
Photo: Jenny Harper
7.30pm – 9.30pm Words with GAIA: Scratch Night
Join us under GAIA for a night of new work from exciting local artists!
In this ‘scratch night’, a mix of performers, writers and theatre makers will try out new ideas from ‘scratch’ in front of a receptive audience. Artists at any stage of their career will share and test out brand-new, poetry, drama, comedy and prose in the beautiful space of Keele Chapel under GAIA. You’ll get a unique chance to see work-in-progress and to provide gentle feedback to the performers if you wish to.
This is a Pay What You Decide event: Book in advance for free and pay what you decide at the end of the show (card only)
Book your tickets here.
Limited space available.
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Saturday 27 November
Image credit: https://www.jr-wildlife.co.uk/
2.30pm – 2.45pm Up Men Sing Perform
Up Men Sing is a male voice choir who’ve been meeting in Stoke-on-Trent every fortnight since Summer 2019; a choir where talking about mental health is as much a priority as learning a song. Join them under GAIA as the choir share traditional polyphonic songs from Ukraine and Georgia.
Free.
Book a free GAIA viewing ticket here to experience.
Limited space available.
3pm – 4pm Sing under GAIA: Choir Workshop
After Up Men Sing have performed come and learn some of the rich traditional Slavic and Georgian polyphonic songs performed by Up Men Sing with the choir’s leader Paul.
The workshop is open all to ALL, not just men!
Some spaces may be available on the day but we encourage you book in advance. Book here.
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