Cross-Currents at Canterbury Cathedral

Hundreds of delicate hand-crafted boats will set sail amongst the architecture of Canterbury Cathedral in a new exhibition by environmental artist Frances Carlile that asks questions about the meaning of sanctuary and journey in an unpredictable world.

Cross-Currents exhibition Opens at Canterbury Cathedral Friday 18th

The boats have been crafted from found and foraged materials including leaves, seaweed, cat shark egg cases, driftwood, bones, and shells creating a fragility that serves as a powerful metaphor for the impermanence of life and human vulnerability especially within the ecclesiastical setting of the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and established place of pilgrimage.

And, as part of the exhibition, visitors are invited to join clergy on a pilgrimage to the cathedral on Thursday 31st October.

Suitable for all ages, the pilgrimage can be as long as ten miles or a gentle stroll and there are accessible sections including travelling part of the way by train.  Pilgrims are invited to gather natural items on the way to mark their journey and join in a workshop with the artist, Frances Carlile to craft these items to make their own unique boat which will be added to the larger fleet inside the Cathedral as a symbol of their day’s pilgrimage and the longer journey of life.

Reserve you place here.

It is the first exhibition to be curated by Jacquiline Creswell since she partnered with the Association of English Cathedrals bringing a wide-range of expertise and resources to help cathedrals use the visual arts to tell their stories within their sacred spaces.

Jacquiline said:

“The concept of journey and pilgrimage is deeply rooted in the history of Canterbury Cathedral. For centuries, pilgrims have travelled to this sacred site seeking spiritual renewal and enlightenment. 

“The installation in a sacred setting prompts contemplation on the shared experiences of seeking refuge, embarking on spiritual quests, and navigating the unpredictable waters of life. In many religious traditions, pilgrimage is a holy journey undertaken as an act of devotion or penance. By understanding their journey as a pilgrimage or exodus, we can appreciate the spiritual significance of migration and the courage it takes to leave behind everything familiar in search of a better future. 

“Through this poignant work of art we can empathize with all those who have been displaced, recognize their inherent dignity, and appreciate the resilience and courage they exhibit as they navigate the challenges of resettlement.” 

The artist, Frances Carlile said:

“The fleeting nature of life is mirrored in the transient natural materials used in making these vessels. The subdued hues of ephemeral seaweed, delicate leaves and translucent birch bark are juxtaposed with rugged elements of driftwood and prickly thorns. The materials themselves inspire an imaginary world where miniature shell boats can voyage through the enormous sea of the cathedral equipped with tiny oars. 

“The making of each vessel is itself a contemplative journey. The landscape comes into greater focus as you search for leaves, thorns, seedpods, pinecones, seaweed, driftwood, bones, shells and fragments of all kinds. Finding the unexpected. Observing the colours. Walking through woods, along lanes, over moorland. Forever walking the seashore, the strandline, living with the turning tide. Hearing the cry of the oyster catchers as the light falls and the colours fade.” 

Cross-Currents opens this Friday (18 Oct) until 15th February 2025. The exhibition is included free with a valid Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends of Canterbury Cathedral Card. There is no charge to join the pilgrimage on 31st October.  There are drop-in workshops during the October school holidays for children and adults to visit the cathedral and make a boat that will become part of the fleet too.

Full details are available here.