Gloucestershire residents have another chance to see Luke Jerram's acclaimed Gaia sculpture in the county, as the seven-metre replica of planet Earth comes to Tewkesbury Abbey in February 2024.
Back in Gloucestershire after touring the globe, with a residency at Gloucester Cathedral in October 2020, visitors can see the striking artwork in place from Friday 2 to Tuesday 20 February 2024, to get a new perspective of our planet.
Hosted by the abbey in partnership with Tewkesbury Culture's Two Rivers Converge Festival, Gaia is a spectacular sight in the evening.
Internally lit as the building is cast in shadows, suspended from the building's medieval nave, it gives spectators a profound sense of what it might be like to see the Earth from space.
Gaia is accompanied by a specially made surround sound composition, providing an immersive experience and chance to feel the 'Overview Effect' — a unique phenomenon commonly experienced by astronauts, described as a feeling of awe for the planet, an appreciation for the interconnection of life and a renewed sense of responsibility for looking after the environment.
Tewkesbury Abbey is also hosting relaxed viewings for visitors with dementia and SEN on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 15 February at 4pm.
Reverand Canon Nick Davies, vicar of Tewkesbury Abbey, said: 'We're really excited to be hosting Gaia. We live on a fragile planet facing a climate emergency. I hope that this event will give tens of thousands of people the opportunity to wonder at the beauty of the Earth.
'Floating in the Abbey, this globe offers us a new perspective on our planet and might help us to see it as a sacred place.'
Tickets to see Gaia in the evening are available from The Roses Theatre box office and can be booked via the website.
Tewkesbury Abbey is also free to visit the daytime, open from 9am to 4pm and Gaia can be seen during this time, too. Please note, the abbey is closed from Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 February 2024.
