The Art of Lost Words Exhibit

kitching-smallWhat makes a word fall out of use? The Text Gallery in London is currently exhibiting The Art of Lost Words,  “an exhibition of design, typography and illustration inspired by forgotten words. 47 participants have chosen from among the dictionary’s lost but lovely words, with an open brief to create an original work inspired by their choice.” The artists include the author Audrey Niffenegger, Kate Gibb, Lizzie Ridout, and Mark A. Webber, just to name a few. Among the delicious, defunct words illustrated in this exhibit are mansuetude (adj. gentleness or mildness), venustation (n. the act of causing to become beautiful), filipendulous (adj. hanging by a thread) and the fabulously self-referential flosculation (n. an embellishment or ornamentation in speech). Save the words.

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Julie Greicius was Art Editor for The Rumpus when it launched in January 2009. One year later, she became Senior Literary Editor, and later, Senior Features Editor. Julie also co-edited the first book published by The Rumpus, Rumpus Women, Vol. 1, featuring personal essays and illustration from twenty kick-ass contributors. Her writing been featured on The Rumpus, Midnight Breakfast, Stanford Medicine Magazine, and BuzzFeed, as well as in the anthology The 27th Mile. She lives in California and is a member of The Rumpus Advisory Board.

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