Divine Summits: Behind the Scenes of the Exhibition that Brought St Andrews Together

Can mountains bring us together? Right now, in the Research Studio of the Wardlaw Museum, you can see an exhibition very close to my heart: Divine Summits: The Cultural Lives of Mediterranean Mountains. Since January of last year, my friend Victoria Jackson and I have been working with the museum and the School of Classics to explore the deep connection between mountain landscapes and cultural heritage, showing that protecting one often means protecting the other.

Before this project, we had a story to tell — but no idea how to make it happen. Breaking into the museum world felt impossible. It’s often described as impenetrable, a place for insiders. But we decided to take one small step at a time. One day, Victoria spotted a call for exhibition proposals on the Wardlaw website. She texted me: “Let’s give it a try.” We didn’t expect much. The Wardlaw is historic and prestigious, and securing a space there seemed out of reach. But with nothing to lose, we submitted the proposal. Surprisingly, it got accepted. That night, we toasted in Regs’ dining hall. 

As we dove into research, we discovered that one of the most important books on the topic, The Folds of Olympus: Mountains in Ancient Greek and Roman Culture, had been written by St Andrews professor Jason König. We reached out for reading suggestions and instead found a mentor. He reviewed our materials, helped sharpen our ideas, and even secured funding.

Then came the documentary, an adventure all its own. We knew several St Andrews scholars whose research focuses on ecocriticism and the human–nature relationship, and they were excited to be interviewed. What we didn’t know was how to make a film. We needed a videographer, equipment, and a plan. Luckily, a friend from the Department of Film Studies stepped in. In May, squeezed between exams, we transformed professors’ offices and Classics classrooms into makeshift sets, hunting for the right backdrops, light, and questions to capture the heart of our project.

Victoria Jackson and Carla Longo on top of Ben Vrackie

After collecting about an hour of raw footage, another talented friend took over the editing. She shaped the clips, colour graded, made the right cuts, and turned our messy hours of filming into a story that truly came alive. When it was finished, we were speechless. We had created something from nothing. Every late night, every frustrating moment, every tiny setback suddenly felt worth it.

The exhibition doesn’t stop at the documentary. It also features photographs and stories of mountain days submitted by students, family, and friends. We received dozens of images from across the globe — from South America and New Zealand to Italy, Scotland, and beyond. Some capture childhood memories or weekends spent with friends; others honour loved ones we have lost, like my uncle Fabrizio Longo, whose passion for the mountains I wanted to celebrate. Together, these stories and images wove a web of connection, linking all of us across time and space. And finally, all of this is ready for the whole St Andrews and beyond.

I hope this article does more than share our exhibition — though we would be thrilled if you visited. I hope it shows that there is hope in telling our stories. That hope lives in community. Nothing we achieved would have been possible without the support of institutions and professors who believed in us, friends who volunteered countless hours, and everyone who contributed photos and memories.

At a time when individualism is often glorified, I want to offer a different message. A path in the cultural world is possible, but only if we rely on others with kindness, trust, and generosity. This is what mathematician John Nash demonstrated when he challenged Adam Smith’s economic theories. While Smith argued that the best outcome comes when each individual pursues their own interest, Nash showed that the best results happen when everyone acts for themselves and for the group. Collaboration, he proved, shapes everything we do.

Divine Summits is an invitation to reflect on how sharing our dreams does not diminish them. On the contrary, it turns them into reality.

Photo courtesy of Carla Longo