After hosting Museum of the Moon in 2022, Exeter Cathedral was the home of Luke Jerram’s Gaia in February 2023.
Exeter UNESCO City of Literature was proud to co-ordinate a series of events and projects run by Partnership Network members around environment & climate action, encompassing notions of care for, connection with, and the celebration of our planet.
We also commissioned local and international writers for two very exciting projects; a pamphlet of original writing - The Gaia Papers - and an original poetry & sound piece!
Commissions were supported by Exeter Cathedral, and both projects were officially launched at a very special event on the last night of Gaia’s stay at Exeter Cathedral.
The Gaia Papers
The Gaia Papers is a unique collection of original writing by writers from UNESCO Cities of Literature around the world, presenting a diverse range of works that explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world through poetry and prose.
Featuring award-winning writers from Exeter and Devon, alongside contributions from Heidelberg, Leeuwarden, Melbourne, and Nottingham, The Gaia Papers serves as a powerful reminded that, as a local and global community, we must work together to protect our shared home, and is testament to the power of creativity.
Read the digital version here!
Scroll through the pdf, or click the icon in the top right to view full screen!
With thanks to our local & international contributors - Yousuf Hindess, Rebecca Hooper, Michael Ludgrove, Clare Morris, Mike Murray, Katie Moudry, Somatic, and Four of Swords, Susie Anderson (Melbourne), Elle Jacobson (Nottingham), Claudia Klingenschmid (Heidelberg), and Marloes van der Singel (Leeuwarden).
The Art of Gaia
We were enormously proud to commission 2 young designers from Exeter College as part of The Gaia Papers project.
Aaron Smyth designed an absolutely stunning front cover that truly encompasses the Gaia Creates themes, and Eleanor McKeague created a beautiful image of the face of Gaia. Both designs were then converted into versions compatible with RISO-printing for the next stage - click the images below to take a closer look at Aaron & Eleanor’s wonderful designs!
Gaia
In Print
The gorgeous printed edition of The Gaia Papers was RISO-printed, collated, and stapled by our friends at Inky Fingers Workshop.
Printed on post-consumer waste stream paper and using soya-based inks, even the production of The Gaia Papers is on theme!
Get your copy!
If you’ve enjoyed the digital version of The Gaia Papers and would
like to get your hands on one of the gorgeous RISO-printed copies, our friends at Bookbag are stocking them in store and online.
Poetry & Sound
The Sun’s Letter to the Human Race
An original creation by two local artists
Together with Exeter Cathedral we commissioned two talented local artists to create a new original poetry soundscape!
Poet Katie Moudry wrote a brand new poem in response to Gaia - The Sun’s Letter to the Human Race - before Sound Artist Somatic created an added emotive layer of audio magic. The resulting piece is a beautiful blend of words & sound, and we are thrilled to share here - we hope you enjoy it!
Listen to it here!
About the artists
Poet - Katie Moudry
Katie is an Exeter based poet and the current Deputy Bard of Exeter. They draw their inspirations from their lived experience of being a queer disabled activist with a deep love for the natural world. Having had involvement with the Cathedral for a number of years, they are looking forward to writing a response to the Gaia installation, and for it to debut in such a sacred space.
Katie has been published in Spread The Word’s Writing Happiness anthology, and was the host of The Queer British Book-Off as part of Exeter Pride 2022.
Sound Artist - Somatic
Somatic is an emerging Sound Artist, Music Producer, DJ, Sound Designer and Engineer. Sound systems and dance music culture are in his blood having been taken by his parents on an annual pilgrimage around the UK festival circuit from the age of 10 weeks old. Affectionately known as a Desi-Devonian due to his Indian-English heritage, Somatic’s culture and upbringing very much feed into his musical identity.
Website: www.sominsomatic.com
Instagram: @somin.somatic
Under Gaia - Launching The Gaia Papers
On Monday 27th February, Exeter Cathedral hosted our local contributors and a wonderful audience for an evening of words & sound to launch The Gaia Papers.
Check out these wonderful photos taken by the tremendously talented Emma Solley!
Exeter UNESCO City of Literature would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who helped make Gaia Creates happen - from the Partnership Network members who programmed events, the many fantastic writers who submitted to The Gaia Papers, & everyone who attended a Gaia Creates activity!
With thanks to: the whole team at Exeter Cathedral, Quay Words, Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter College, Exeter Phoenix, Magic Carpet Arts for Health and Inky Fingers Workshop, Four of Swords, Arvon, Hiba Noor Khan, InExeter, The Devon & Exeter Institution, Claire Ratinon, Fatma Sabet, Spork!, University of Exeter, Exeter City Council, BBC Radio Devon, our fellow UNESCO Cities of Literature, Melbourne, Nottingham, Heidelberg, and Leeuwarden, as well as Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
