Arts
On this episode, we’re discussing the Virgin Saints. This grouping of early Christian saints pulls together stories of women from different corners of the world and spanning many centuries. They include tales of people rising from the dead, a woman whose eyes are gouged out either by someone else or herself (depending on who you ask), and a woman who came to symbolise French resistance against the English during the Hundred Years’ War. Many of the stories serve as a counterbalance to the focus on men’s stories in religious texts, and, given the nature of sainthood and patronage in the Catholic Church, are called upon daily by people to help them with all aspects of their lives. Stating the case for the Virgin Saints as revolutionaries is Lindy Richardson. Lindy is the Textiles Programme Director and curator of the historic Needlework Development Scheme embroidery collection at Edinburgh College of Art. Her curation work has included the gathering of oral histories across the UK to compliment the sample and archival collection. She is currently working on an exhibition of the collection which will take place in the Main Library in George Square from November 2019 - February 2020. Find out more about the St Clare project: http://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/st-clare-project Send your materials for the St Clare shroud: http://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/st-clare-submission Revolutionaries is produced and recorded at Edinburgh College of Art, and is hosted by Ardie Collins from the Engagement and Communications team. Music is Noahs Stark by krackatoa.