Museum of the Bible to Unfold Mile-Long Wiedmann Bible on the National Mall
Press Release by Museum of the Bible
Washington, May 8, 2019 – Museum of the Bible announces plans to unfold the nearly mile-long Wiedmann Bible facsimile along the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday, June 1, 2019, from 8 a.m.-noon. This event will be the first complete unveiling of the Wiedmann Bible in the United States and will require the assistance of 1,000 volunteers to unfold and hold the artifact. Volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt and free general admission to Museum of the Bible.
“Museum of the Bible is honored to be part of this historic event,” said museum president and CEO Ken McKenzie. “The Wiedmann Bible exhibit is one of the most popular at the museum, and yet, you can’t truly understand the artifact’s uniqueness until you see just how long it is. I encourage everyone who is able to literally reach out their hands and join me in making history on June 1.”
About The Wiedmann Bible:
The Wiedmann Bible is a continuous illustrated narrative of the Christian Bible. Containing 3,333 images and stretching 1,170 meters, it is the longest illustrated Bible ever created.
German artist Willy Wiedmann spent 16 years creating this Bible in his own unique style, called Polycon. This style was greatly influenced by his lifelong love of music, as well as by some of the major 20th-century, European, avant-garde movements such as Surrealism, Dadaism, Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. Wiedmann’s ultimate purpose for his work was simple: to engage people visually with the Bible. The original Wiedmann Bible is on display now at Museum of the Bible through September 8, 2019.
The Wiedmann Bible was unfolded for the first time along the Elbe shore in Magdeburg, Germany, resulting in a new world record for the largest concertina book.
“I am overwhelmed with joy. The Lincoln Memorial has been the site of many important historical events. Showing this unique visual narrative of the Bible here makes my heart overflow with gratitude,” says the artist’s son Martin Wiedmann. “When my father wanted to publish his work, he was rejected so many times. However, he never gave up. He said that God’s wisdom gave him the chance to finish what he started, and he believed that this work needed to be shared. Even if it did not happen until decades later. I am very thankful to the Museum of the Bible for making this possible.”
To Volunteer:
Museum of the Bible seeks volunteers to participate in this historic event. Each volunteer will hold up a section of the Wiedmann Bible until the entire Bible is displayed around the Reflecting Pool. This process will then be reversed to carefully return the Bible back into its container. Volunteers are encouraged to wear comfortable footwear. Register to volunteer here.
Heather Cirmo – Acting Director of Communications
Museum of the Bible is an innovative, global, educational institution whose purpose is to invite all people to engage with the history, narrative and impact of the Bible.
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