In the introduction to his book, ‘The Lost Words’, the naturalist and author Robert McFarlane writes: “Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children. They disappeared so quietly that at first almost no one noticed – fading away like water on stone…”
The Lost Words – forget-me-not - which takes place from 30 September to 24 October at Storey's Field Centre, Cambridge CB3 1AA - presents the works of 32 artists and their collective response to the deletion of natural words from the Oxford Children’s Junior Dictionary. Words such as newt, bramble, dandelion, acorn and conker have been replaced with website, blog and celebrity.
Carved in stone and slate, and penned as exuberant calligraphy, the words come to life and act as a reminder that without them, the magic and mystery of the natural world is indescribable. The exhibition at Storey’s Field Centre displays a selection of the acclaimed works that were originally displayed at The Lettering Arts Centre in Spring 2019.
Words are the tools of the lettering artist, often used to commemorate and remember lost people through memorials, whether in a cemetery or a garden - and these ‘lost words’ have been carved, set in stone and remembered. The art of Letter Design and Letter Carving is an age-old skill and a craft that has been mastered by just a few modern day artists. It is the Lettering Arts Trust’s mission to ensure this craft survives the modern world and we retain the skills for the next generation of artists.
Lynne Alexander, Director of Education & Exhibitions at the Lettering Arts Trust, said, “The Oxford University Press says that it needs to make room for new words: the likes of ‘attachment’, ‘smartphone’. ‘The Lost Words – forget-me-not’ is not a protest against the OUP deleting the words, but a little insurance for the future against the words never again being spoken or understood. The carved pieces will reside in people’s homes or gardens, maybe in a woodland or marshland, but they will be there, strong and relevant for another 100 years or more.”
An illustrated catalogue provides details of all the works from the original exhibition, together with the artists’ reactions. Works can be purchased from The Lettering Arts Trust.
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