What it looks like outside the church...

EXPLORING ‘SANCTUARY STREET’

Lindsay Contemporary Practice, Work-In-Progress 2 Comments

So, in response to this week’s challenge, I chose to go around Sanctuary Street, which is the main road in Zabbar. I chose this road as there is always quite a bit going around in that street and there is a variety of building from older as well as more modern times.

That’s the street on Google Maps

Here are some pictures of the street in all it’s glory:

  • Zabbar Sanctuary Church dedicated to Our Lady of Graces
  • Bust of GrandMaster Ferdinand von Hompesch – Last Grandmaster of Malta
  • WWII Memorial of Zabbar Residents
  • What it looks like outside the church…

I also went to the local church museum. I came across some interesting stuff. Some are beautiful, some not so much, and others were just gnarly. I came across anything from paintings, craftwork… even a hearse.

  • The first fresco of the Our Lady of Graces… (please excuse the glare)
  • This manuscript holds the documentation of the first local parich priest, Don Angelo Potremoli
  • Standars-issue skull… it’s a staple in every museum
  • This is the official document that denotes that Zabbar becomes a Parish
  • ‘Lehen is-Sewwa’ newspaper reporting the first Cyclists’ Pilgrimage in 1951.
  • A Selection of photos and memorabilia commemorating the yearly cyclists’ pilgrimage
  • Cyclists’ Pilgrimage commemorative shield
  • Filigree Cross from the 1700s. Filigree is a traditional metalwork craft.
  • Wooden Hearse used for those that died from the plague in 1813


While I was in the museum, I had the opportunity to read more about certain events that took place in this street. I knew about the major events, such as the cyclists pilgrimage and the crashing of the Vulcan aeroplane, however, not into so much detail. Below are some images from the pilgrimage:

  • A Selection of photos and memorabilia commemorating the yearly Cyclists’ Pilgrimage
  • ‘Lehen is-Sewwa’ newspaper reporting the first Cyclists’ Pilgrimage in 1951.

And these are some images from the Vulcan incident:

  • Fragments from the Vulcan aircraft
  • RAF Captain’s Uniform
  • Various local newspapers reporting the incident

Never thought I would enjoy going round the street taking pictures as much as I did. Very glad that I chose this street, as I learned more about the life in this street in the two hours I spent taking pictures there than I ever did whilst walking through it every single day.

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2 Comments

  • Susanna

    So interesting to see your investigations Lindsay. I have really enjoyed looking at the differences in everyones responses to this weeks task in retrospect. One thing- think about editing your work into a new form that tells a story so they are more than a sequence of photos. How could you do this? What is the sound like in this street? could the photos be collaged or edited together as moving image with audio? It is obvious that enjoyed the process of getting out there but the next step is to reflect upon this initial gathering edit and present in a new way, time permitted. If you don’t have time to do it maybe suggest how you would- look at other ways that people have illustrated place, noticed the ignored…. 🙂