Sole Space – Poems of Pilgrimage

In November 2019 Former Teacher of Art, Alex Le Rossignol, set off on a Creative Pilgrimage with 6 other Kent based artists to walk and record The Augustine Camino from Rochester to Ramsgate. They aimed to do this in small sections, slowly, unaware of the looming Pandemic.

Alex is an iconographer, and she planned to paint the key Saints and keep a visual and written journal. In keeping with the rhythm of each walk, she also began to write poetry and shared some of her writings at the halfway exhibition at Chartham Vineyard during the Canterbury Festival 2020.

After getting a lot of interest from exhibition visitors, she continued writing as a way of expression for the deeper journey of lockdown. Her poem ‘ Permeable Membrane ‘ was highly commended in The King Lear Poetry prize 2021.

She was reluctant to do a ‘normal’ book but it was not until she met Norah Perkins of Work and Turn, that she found the answer. Norah agreed to hand typeset the poems using an antique Golding Press letterpress, and to make a limited edition of 100 numbered books. To Alex, the act of words being imprinted physically onto each page seemed fitting, as it echoes the imprint of feet when we walk and the deeper imprint left on the group’s hearts by Pilgrimage.

Alex is seeking financial supporters for this project. It can be the price of a coffee, so no contribution is too small. Supporters who give £25 or above will receive a signed copy of the book. As the project unfolds other rewards may appear. All supporters will have their names displayed at points of sale unless they say no and will be sent photos of how the book is made at each stage. If you wish to support Alex in this way please contact her by email or by mobile – 07780997763.