Co-created by Gabrielle Lorenz & Sylvan Davies

Gtr.Manchester & Lancashire

Size: 100 x 120cms

THE CONTEXT
In the 19th century, Reform Societies were set up in England in support of democratisation of the political system by instituting universal male suffrage. 

Members of Female Reform Societies pledged themselves to “use our utmost endeavour to instil into our children a deep and rooted hatred of our corrupt and tyrannical rulers”.

One means was the use of ‘the Bad Alphabet’. Sylvan and I were inspired to seek out more information on this in order to make a textile response. The working Class Movement Library in Manchester found us a report from the Manchester Observer of 1819 describing the alphabet and from this we made a Child’s educational quilt using primary colours – our first ‘Bad Alphabet’ 

In response to Covid19 we decided to make a 2020 Bad Alphabet bringing the Quilt/Banner up to date.

We chose to use Black, White and Grey to represent the restrictions, limitations  and consequent depression of the year and we chose commonly used phrases, words and issues of the year to represent each letter of the alphabet.