Curator Henrietta introduces the Lettering Arts Trust exhibition ‘Grown from Stone’, which opens on 24 August.
‘Grown from Stone’ is a highly unusual exhibition comprising thought-provoking works inspired by nature and conservation created by stone carvers. Brought to Winterbourne by the Lettering Arts Trust, the exhibition celebrates the heritage craft of hand-cut lettering in stone, an artform that has a long association with Winterbourne.
Visitors will be familiar with the beautiful sculptures that have been on display in the garden for many years. These sculptures are all on loan from the Trust and are a part of its ‘National Art & Memory Collection’, which celebrates contemporary letter cutting. In the words of the Trust’s Catherine Samy the ‘pieces illustrate how lettering works can enhance the outdoors’.
In the last few months, the relationship between the Lettering Arts Trust and Winterbourne has deepened, with a new sculpture commission soon to be installed in the garden. In addition, 27 sculptures have been brought to Winterbourne to create ‘Grown from Stone’, a new house installation for 2024.
‘Grown from Stone’ draws upon works from two former Lettering Arts Trust exhibitions – ‘On a Knife Edge’ and ‘The Lost Words’ – both which had conservation at their heart.
‘On a Knife Edge’ (2021) focused upon plants and animals that were on the endangered list, along with texts which highlighted species loss and the importance of biodiversity.
‘The Lost Words’ (2019) was inspired by a controversial decision by the publisher of a popular children’s dictionary to omit certain words due to ‘lack of use’. Many of these referred to the natural world and included common plant and animal names, including ‘wren’, ‘willow’, and ‘dandelion’. By highlighting these words, the artists literally set in stone the importance of keeping nature at the centre of our thoughts and conversations.
Works from both exhibitions have now been brought together specially for Winterbourne. The artists featured in the exhibition work with a variety of media, including sandstone, Welsh slate, Portland stone, and even Carrara marble.
There are many reasons why Winterbourne is the ideal setting for ‘Grown from Stone’. As a haven for biodiversity, Winterbourne promotes the importance of nature for our mental and physical health and has conservation at its heart. This emphasis on conservation extends beyond the natural world; in the Winterbourne Press, we help conserve the endangered craft of letterpress printing, one of the artforms supported by the Lettering Arts Trust.
In addition, the Arts & Crafts interior of Winterbourne House is full of motifs based on nature, from the plasterwork to the William Morris wallpapers. Winterbourne serves as the perfect backdrop for artworks that celebrate the natural world through the medium of the sculpted word.
One of the sculptures, ‘Dandelion’ by Maya Martin, will be paired with dandelion specimens from the University of Birmingham Herbarium.
The sculptures will be integrated throughout room displays and exhibition rooms on the house’s ground and first floors. Catherine says that, by displaying works in this way, we have ‘the chance to show pieces in a domestic environment [and] illuminate how smaller pieces can bring beauty and joy into the home.’
All artworks will be for sale through the Lettering Arts Trust website, with funds going directly to the Lettering Arts Trust’s journeyman and apprenticeship schemes.
The exhibition opens on 24 August and runs until 27 October 2024. Find out more over on our ‘what’s on’ page or by visiting the Lettering Arts Trust’s website.