Untitled (Ship-forks and Sema-forks)

A limited edition artwork commissioned by Grit & Pearl for South Tyneside Council as part of the South Shields Seafront Interpretation Project. The Sema-fork series explores other local but endangered languages, translating north-east dialect words connected to the coast into visual semaphore signs, once used to convey messages ship to ship or ship to shore. The dialects of the north east are distinct and rich. Some of those appropriated for this work are still in common use, others are recorded in glossaries of ‘North Country words’ but have since disappeared or have changed their meanings over time. They were selected for their connection to the coast for this site specific work. Lowse: loose, free. To unbind, to leave off work. Plodge: to wade through water, to plunge Blather: to talk a great deal of nonsense Rowt: to roar, as the sea Loup: to leap Clavver: to clamber, to climb up 'Ship-forks' bear silhouettes for the identification of types of vessel at sea. Source: Merchant Ships 1963. South Shields was home to the renowned Marine and Technical College, and the South Tyneside college is still one of the largest merchant navy training colleges in the United Kingdom.