SPECIAL EVENT


Thursday, January 26th, between 3:30 and 7:30

On a rainy Thursday afternoon in January, The Friends of the Alphabet held an event that allowed members of the public to observe the work of calligraphers in action. The exhibitors demonstrated a variety of different ancient and contemporary styles, using traditional and modern media as visitors walked through at their own pace. A steady stream of visitors meandered through the exhibit space throughout the four hour performance, and the reactions were strongly positive.

See photos of the event.

Photo by Minh Doan

In an age of touchscreen keyboards on handheld devices and the virtual disappearance of postal correspondence, handwriting is less and less a necessity of daily life. Actually watching this refined lettering as it was done was a completely new experience to many of the onlookers, and impression was one of fascination and wonder.

Set in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity United Methodist Church, the performance provided the opportunity to see fine penmanship and artistic letterform as it is constructed. Lighting was be dimmed and the workspaces illuminated by spot-lighting in an atmosphere of silence, allowing the artists and observers to enjoy more focused concentration. In this quiet environment, the guild hoped to distill what is most seductive and mesmerizing about the practice of putting pen to paper - the patina on a burled wood penstaff, the smell of newly ground sumi ink, the glistening sheen of wet goache, and the sound of a goose quill as it scratches and twists its way across a finely polished calfskin vellum.

Among the diverse styles, or "hands" demonstrated were elegant Copperplate and Spencerian scripts, flourished Italic, Carolingian, Lombardic, and the eastern letterforms of Chinese and Hebrew calligraphy. In addition to pure lettering, some demonstrating artists will be worked with color, illustration, and gold leaf -long the treasured embellishments of ornamental manuscripts.

Held in the beautiful surroundings of one of Atlanta's historic churches, this secular event was free to the public and Friends of the Alphabet welcomed all who are intrigued by the mastery of the written word.

Subsequent events of this type are planned for the future, along with exhibitions and educational demonstrations.

If you or your organization would like to find out more about our opportunities, write to info@friendsofthealphabet.org or call 678-463-7500.