St Cuthbert's Final Journey
Following 9th century monks as they flee from invading vikings with the body of St Cuthbert and the Lindisfarne Gospels – and undertake a momentous journey that helps shape England
A Magnificent Response!
Well, our exhibition, Retraced: St Cuthbert’s Final Journey, has been open since the 27th June and we really have had a magnificent response so far…with over 1,400 visitors to date – and that’s people engaging with the work, not those passing through on their way to the Gala Theatre.
Photography © Paul Alexander Knox
Of course, I never appreciated how much work it took to prepare an exhibition. It’s far more than simply hanging a few pictures up…
Photography © Paul Alexander Knox
Photography © Paul Alexander Knox
I’m not grumbling….Paul and his wife (the wonderful artist and curator Dawn Felicia Knox) did the vast majority of the work, aided brilliantly by some of Paul’s photography students. But I pitched in on the Tuesday night and the Wednesday day-time, with the printing of my writing and other more practical issues…
Photography © Paul Alexander Knox
Don’t look at that window cleaning cloth too closely or you might realise it’s a pair of Paul’s boxer shorts (well, you do get close to someone when you travel with them and spend all your time together).
And obviously, being a pen-pusher, I’m not used to such hard work (as my wife will testify), so I needed a quick lie down before things got underway…
Photography © Paul Alexander Knox
Then the BBC and Tyne Tees came to interview us, which was great (we were stood up by Radio 4 but we won’t say too much about that)…
And then it was opening time! Paul was too excited to take any pictures of the opening night, but we did have another launch for Durham University, and then the Lindisfarne Gospels team used our exhibition space for the opening reception of the play ‘A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Durham.’
Photography © Paul Alexander Knox
And so it’s been fantastic. Thanks to everyone who supported and encouraged, in real life and virtual life. Thanks to everyone who has come along and for all those lovely comments in our guest book. We’re in the centre of Durham, next door to the Gala Theatre in Millennium Square. If you’re in Durham, for the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels or anything else, please come along. It’s free and it’s brilliant – big selling points surely! And if you do, please leave us an honest comment in our guest book. You’ve got until the 3rd August….
Photography © Paul Alexander Knox
Photography © Paul Alexander Knox
St Cuthbert's Final Journey 
I’m so glad you’ve had such good numbers of visitors and the response to the exhibition has been so positive.
Aargh! I might miss the exhibition as I don’t think I will be able to come to Durham until September.
When a book comes out about your travels and with Paul’s wonderful photos, how will we know when it will be published?
Can you use this site as a mailing list?
Many blessings on your writing, Richard, and on Paul for his gift of photography. It’s been a wonderful virtual journey to be able to travel with St. Cuthbert, his community and you!
Heather
Heather – I post a blog, I see I have a response from my e-mails, I smile and see that it is almost always you 🙂
Others respond too, but you’re always first off the mark.
Hopefully the exhibition will start to travel. The photographs here don’t do it justice.
We’re still waiting to work with the libraries to put a funding application in, for a touring exhibition and a book. If this is successful, then we will have a number of books, and, because the money would be coming from the arts council, we will not be able to sell them. Therefore, if we’re successful, I will be delighted to send you one for just postage and packing.
If this isn’t successful I will look at publishing a very limited number of copies and selling some of them. And of course I will let you know.
Thanks so much
Richard and Paul
Thank you, Richard.
I hope a space on Lindisfarne can be found to host an exhibition for the work you and Paul have put in at some time in the future. A library or exhibition space north of the Border (Melrose?) would be great too! Look forward to any postings that relate to all the possibilities.
A complimentary book would be wonderful but would be happy to buy a copy.
Of course, there is always the novel you could write about the Community that travelled with St. Cuthbert’s body all that time. I’m sure it’s there, somewhere, waiting for you to write it!!
Congratulations on the success of your exhibit. A touring exhibition and a book, how exciting. I’ve enjoyed reading about your writings through the postings you have shared along with the wonderful photographs that Paul took documenting the journey. PS: Here in the USA, recently I attended a traveling tour about the creation and afterlife of the King James Bible. Here’s the link if you want to take a look:
http://marygilmartin.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/manifold-greatness-the-king-james-bible-exhibit-personal-collection-of-bibles/
Thanks Mary. Your blog is great, with a real professional feel to it. I enjoyed your post, and others too, including walking the railroad tracks….
You’re welcome and thanks for visiting. Life is good and writing exciting. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Hi are there any plans to bring this exhibition to Aberdeen – Scotland – as I would really like to see you photographs close up and not just in the back ground of attendance photos? 🙂
Hello Sarina and thanks for the comment. I would love to bring the exhibition up to Aberdeen and I’m sure the photographer Paul would. But it’s a hell of a way to bring it and so we’d need funding – and so that’s very doubtful I’m afraid. However, you can see many of Paul’s photographs by working your way through the whole blog/website. All of Paul’s photographs are copyrighted to him – as there are some taken by myself and others. Of course they won’t be curated in such a beautiful way….the only other way would be to purchase a book when they’re ready in a couple of months. We’ve got funding to print some books but these will be given away to all those who contributed to the project because its arts council money and we’re not allowed to make a profit from the funding. However, I am purchasing another twenty or so out of my own money so I can sell them on to people who have asked for copies to buy. Hope that helps somewhat 🙂