The Society of Smallness

This is third in a series of essays featuring venues, artists, curators, and other actors participating in Mini-exhibtiothon ii. Terah Walkup’s essay provides background for her exhibit of  pilgrimage souvenirs that will consecrate The Ledge, that long, narrow strip at the top of the stairway.

Pocket Sanctity: Pilgrimage Eulogia
by Terah Walkup

In the 6th century A.D. an unnamed pilgrim from Piacenza, Italy visited the tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem. Among his observations were the following:

“In the place where the Lord’s body was laid, at the head has been placed a bronze lamp. It burns there day and night, and we took a blessing from it…Earth is brought to the Tomb and put inside, and those who go in take some as a blessing.” Read the rest of this entry »