New London, CT - Lyman Allyn Art Museum announces a new exhibition What’s the Word: Words and Symbols from the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, on view through November 30, 2009. Curated by Zina Davis, Director of the Joseloff Gallery at the University of Hartford, this exhibition features word and symbol based art from the Museum’s permanent collection.

Language is often incorporated into works of art in ways that encourage the viewer to consider the meaning of words and symbols in relation to the visual experience.  Some works ask the viewer to read the text provided, as in Sophie’s Advice, an assemblage by Maureen McCabe, where paragraphs from an almanac contextualize the image within the patterns of women’s history.  Louise McCagg’s Circle Book, a recent acquisition by the Museum, is a cylindrical sculpture that is also a book, allowing words and images to blur together as it spins.

In some works of art, the viewer must look closely even to locate the words and symbols, while in others, text – letters, words, sentences - plays a prominent role.  For Elizabeth Enders, the words are the art.  In her print, Untitled / Formula I, which transcribes the formula for acceleration, Enders focuses on the calligraphic potential of the letters, numbers, and symbols. Works by Jim Dine, Howardina Pindell and Andy Warhol are also featured.

Although words and symbols are frequently found in contemporary art, What’s the Word: Words and Symbols from the Lyman Allyn Art Museum demonstrates that there is also a strong historical precedent for works of art that integrate text with image. Language plays a dominant role in the early American sampler, the medieval illuminated manuscript, and the Farsi marriage document; all were intended to be read.  Symbols are prominently featured on the 19^th century Chinese bronze ritual vessel, the ancient Roman pottery, the ancient Egyptian falcon mummy sarcophagus and two ushabti figures, all of which are on view in this exhibition. These symbol-laden works relay information that would have been easily “read” by the people who used these objects.  Language is seamlessly integrated into these art objects and the result is a unity of aesthetic and purpose.

Lyman Allyn Art Museum is a community-based museum located in New London, Connecticut.  Founded in 1932 by Harriet Upson Allyn in memory of her father, Lyman Allyn, the Museum serves the people of Southeastern Connecticut and is free to the residents of New London. The Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is the permanent collection includes over 10,000 paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, furniture and decorative arts, with an emphasis on American art from the 18^th through 20^th centuries.

The museum is located at 625 Williams Street, New London, Connecticut, exit 83 off I-95.  The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 – 5:00 pm, closed Mondays and major holidays. For more information call 860.443.2545 or visit us on the web at: www.lymanallyn.org.