The world's biggest photo exhibition
TRACK legend Brendan Foster launched a record-breaking art installation and began the countdown to this year's Great North Run.
The founder of the iconic half-marathon joined schoolchildren from across the borough to mark the world's longest ever photographic exhibition.
Known as The Running Line, the display features more than 141,000 images which were collected from spectators, runners, celebrities and the media at last year's event.
Placed end to end, these images created a 13.1 mile-long image – the same length as the run – which was then stretched around Gateshead's Saltwell Park.
It forms a spectacular trail around the park, culminating in a specially constructed dome, giving visitors an insight into the many thousands of individual journeys made on race day.
Hebburn-born Foster told the Gazette: "The Great North Run has become more than just a race, it's become a massive cultural event.
"I think it's quite important to push the cultural side of the race, because of the resurgence of the arts in the region.
"We looked at the Sage, Baltic, and all of the museums in the area, and decided that we wanted to be part of that."
He added: "The exhibition is spectacular, the longest photograph in the world has been created here, which is just incredible."
Schools from across South Tyneside helped to take photographs on the race day, October 1 last year, and chose their favourites to send to the exhibition's organisers, including Lord Blyton Primary School, Harton Technology College and Temple Park County Juniors.
Julian Germain, the artist behind The Running Line, said: "The help from all of the schools was invaluable, and they've contributed some amazing pictures.
"I've never done anything like this before and I doubt we'll see anything like it again."
Cultural programme manager Beth Rowson said: "When the idea was first suggested I thought it was absolutely bonkers, but everyone is so impressed by the results."
Saltwell Towers will house an exhibition of photographs selected from the thousands donated and a commemorative book can be bought at the exhibition, or at the bookshop at Baltic.
The exhibition in the park runs until October 21.
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 23 February 2012
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