Sources

Here is a link to the thesis I completed in the fall of 2014. This work was done in partial completion of the MFA in Graphic Design degree at Vermont College of Fine Arts.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By3EQsOB8sqvYlNnWnVGMUVGQzA/view?usp=sharing

Chalkboards

I am fascinated by the layering that results from applying and then removing and reapplying chalk marks on black chalkboards. I have recently completed several of these studies of the nature of the palimpsests that result from marking, erasing, adding and subtracting. One of my recent drawings/paintings with chalk is 4 feet tall and 18 feet long.

Venice: Ewan Clayton and East Meets West

In October and November of 2014 I took part in two fabulous calligraphy workshops in Venice, Italy.

The first workshop was a study of the influences of Venetian lettering masters from the 15th and 16th centuries on early type designers. By locating this workshop in the the library of the Correr Museum on San Marco, Ewan Clayton, Professor of Design at Sunderland University in England, made it possible for us to view applicable written manuscripts and early type-set books from the period. Ewan recently published his excellent book, The Golden Thread, A History of Writing, which I heartily recommend.

The second intensive workshop was an amazing experiment in blending the eastern calligraphic discipline with personal handwriting from the western tradition. Kazuaki Tanahashi and Monica Dengo collaborated in encouraging individual expression within the traditions of both cultures. I made a great deal of work in the workshops.

Listening

A recent body of my work explores the possibilities and challenges of listening--listening to friends and family, to crowds of people, to silence. The images here are visual translations of my listening experiences.

Exploring Sources

The past two years have been devoted to my studies toward the Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. I was fortunate to be part of the remarkable program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. My thesis focus explored the origins and sources of the text-based marks that appear in my printmaking and paintings. I received the MFA in October, 2014.

La Malagua

A trip to Mexico in the middle of a Seattle winter is always good, but I had an especially fabulous time a few weeks ago as part of a group of artists from Pratt who worked with the super-creative artists of La Malagua in Puerto Vallarta.  I made prints, cut, pasted, colored, painted, lettered, and generally let my imagination have free rein in creating some fun books by week's end.

Here are pictures of four spiral books I made with the theme "Este es el lugar donde todo se conecta" -- "This is the place where the connection happens."  I took the words from one of the Mexican artists of La Malagua, Fernando Sanchez, as he was describing that a book should be a vessel for the ideas it contains.  I was working with images and colors I saw around me in Puerto Vallarta to consider the union of earth, sky, sun and sea.  The spiral proved a perfect symbol for my experience of Puerto Vallarta in February.  

Here are a few more pictures from the workshop week.  I loved it!

Bella Venezia

I returned last week from 10 amazing days in Venice, where I was a participant in a calligraphy workshop taught by Monica Dengo.  Monica is an inspired teacher and brilliant artist who has collaborated with the Correr Museum on Piazza San Marco to curate a remarkable exhibit entitled The Poetics of Written Space.

The opening party was a star-studded event with some of the absolute "greats" of the contemporary calligraphy movement, including Ewan Clayton, Birgit Nass, Kitty Sabatier and Satzuki Hatsushima.  To see a video of the opening party go to http://www.monicadengo.com/288.html.

The course moved rapidly from a look at the movements and gestures involved in personal handwriting to the patterns of making handwriting truly free and rhythmic.  By the end of the week Monica encouraged us to make our own marks and to experiment with various tools.  Here I am using a cola pen and Sumi ink playing with a variety of marks.

As the week progressed the students created four books filled with the week's work.  These books are currently on display as part of The Poetics of Written Space exhibit at the Correr.  Here is my friend Carla Tenret looking over some of the books we made.

Additionally, we had time in the library to handle and study books and letters from the 13th through 19th centuries.  This was a remarkable experience and provided me with a basis for understanding further the concept of developing a personal approach to my lettering.

Perhaps the best part of the week was making new friends from many European countries.  Discussing ideas about lettering over dinner only added to the rich experience of the class.  This class was a significant opportunity in every way.

We had fairly good weather during the course, but the surprise for many of us was a couple of days of high water.  The alarms sound, the water rises, and people wade on through the risen lagoon to get to activities.  Here I am putting on my boots, so that I can go outside.