Exhibition about an Ultra Running and Retracing project now open in Darlington
An exhibition opened this November in Darlington to tell the story of the ‘Retracing Routledge’ project. On show to the public from now until January 14th 2016, at the Crown Street Art Gallery, the free exhibition displays the journey of ‘Retracing Routledge’, which travelled from Darlington all the way to the remote Pacific island of Rapa Nui (Rapa Nui has also been known by Easter Island in the past).
Anthropologist Katherine Routledge (née Pease) who was born in Darlington in 1866 sailed to Rapa Nui as part the official “1914 Mana Expedition to Easter Island” and has been the main inspiration behind the project. Exhibition curator Susie Stephen (handicap 19.3), runner, yoga teacher, coach and member of Darlington Harriers & Athletics Club, has been retracing the footsteps of Katherine Routledge and in 2014 made her way to Rapa Nui from Darlington, via Southampton, Argentina and Chile. Susie’s journey involved a 13-day; 330mile ultra run through England, a 1000mile bike ride over the Andes and a 45mile run around the coastline of Rapa Nui
A number of public talks have been held in connection with the exhibition including one given by writer and journalist Nick Thorpe who made a special visit to Darlington to discuss Rapa Nui and his book, “Eight Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat To Easter Island”.
Additionally, throughout this year’s festive period a ‘selfie’ competition is underway. Visit the gallery and take a selfie with one of the infamous moai statue pictures featured in the exhibition. To be eligible for a prize post your photos to Twitter or Facebook using #moaiselfie. And the prize? A print of ‘Ahu Tongariki’ from Rapa Nui featuring 15 moai statues. A winner will be chosen on the last day of the exhibition and announced on January 15th 2016. Good luck and get creative!
Take a #moaiselfie to be entered in a prize draw
Visit Crown Street Art Gallery, Crown St, Darlington DL1 1ND to see more of the exhibition. Opening hours vary, please check http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Private gallery tours for groups are available on request, please email to make a booking: [email protected]
Retracing Routledge has been co-funded by Creative Darlington and Emerald BioGas. For more information and updates please see:
https://www.facebook.com/retracingroutledge/