The book "The Lost Words" by Jackie Morris and Robert MacFarlane, is a call to arms for us all to act on how we are destroying our environment. I have written before about seeing the lyrical paintings, and these are on display this year at Nymans in West Sussex until June.
The remarkable thing about this book is how many charitable and artistic endeavours it is inspiring: crowdfunders to get the book in to schools, care homes ; murals for hospices; outdoor theatre for young people; teaching resources for schools ; library projects.
Last Tuesday, I had the privilege to be in the audience in London, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, for the most recent collaboration, The Lost Words - Spell Songs.
Spell Songs is a collaboration by too many people to name here, but the public face is the group of musicians who have worked with Jackie Morris and Robert MacFarlane to create the most moving music I have heard for a long while.
Describing the book as a "beautiful protest" and " a wee, clenched fist against the destruction of our world" the musicians truly wove spells amongst the members of the audience. Strangers spoke to each other - yes, in London, at a concert! The ushers welcomed everyone with smiles on their faces as they had seen and heard the rehearsals.
Many, many handkerchiefs and tissues were discretely used during this event as the emotional power of words, music, and collaboration came through to the audience. Jackie Morris was on stage, conjuring her otters, on traditional, hand-pressed paper, from Two Rivers Paper, as the music soared.
Listen to the music here, wonder at it. Read Jackie Morris' blog about the concerts.
Live this day as a guardian of the future of our world.
Sounds like an amazing experience!
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