Experiments with Calligraphy & 2181, 2153, 2125, 2097, 2069, 2041, 2013, 1985, 1957, 1929, 1901 Calendar

The letter "R", New York City Subway, 2010

When I first heard about Wells College, I was very surprised to learn that it had an amazing Book Arts Center. And when I arrived at Wells Book Arts Center I was very surprised to learn that it has a Scriptorium. 

To be perfectly honest, I had never thought about calligraphy, but my office and studio are down the hallway from the scriptorium. One day I started looking at calligraphy, and I had this epiphany (which is pretty embarrassing to say out loud, because it so obvious): all type design comes from written letterforms.

Calligraphy demonstration by Julian Waters, 2012

Calligraphy demonstration by Julian Waters, 2012

I begin to look at traditional calligraphy and think about contemporary graffiti—to me they are estranged twins, living the same life, apart from each other.

Calligraphy demonstration by Julian Waters, 2012, Pen and Ink

Graffiti, Unknown Artist, 2009 Warsawa, Poland

I start noticing prints I have been collecting over the years that have carved or cut text.

Artist unknown, Edo-1771, Mokuhanga print, 6 x 5 inches

Calendar by Keisuke Serizawa, b. 1895 - d. 1984, stencil dyeing 6 x 4 inches

I begin to experiment with my own handwriting. 

Handwriting Sample 1, 2012 Ink on paper, 12 x 9 inches

Handwriting Sample 2, 2012, Ink on paper, 12 x 7.5 inches

I decide to make a one-week project that brings together hand written, hand drawn, and letterpress printed elements in a small book project. 

2181, 2153, 2125, 2097, 2069, 2041, 2013, 1985, 1957, 1929, 1901 Calendar,  lettepress printed in 2012, View of enclosure and cover, 5 x 5 inches closed

I create a mock up.

 

I do a lot of writing.

And some drawing.

 

Trees, 2012, Ink on paper, 11 x 9 inches

I scan everything, make files, and make polymer plates. For this little book, there are so many files and plates it’s totally ridiculous.

 

  

And then I print. 

And print.

 This is one of 12 months represented in the calendar. 
The calendar can be used every 28 years—past, present, or future.

2191, 2153, 2125, 2097, 2069, 2041, 2013, 1985, 1957, 1929, 1901 Calendar, letterpress printed in 2012, 10 x 5 open.

(Detail) 2191, 2153, 2125, 2097, 2069, 2041, 2013, 1985, 1957, 1929, 1901 Calendar, letterpress printed in 2012.   

And around this same time I received a copy of a Christmas letter written by my mom in 1981 and a copy of love letter that my dad had written to my mother in the 1960’s. 

Handwriting samples, Mom (L) & Dad (R)

Seeing their writing captures them more closely then a photo. And I start thinking about the beginning of writing, the time when people are able to write the thoughts from their head down on a piece of paper—and this paper can then travel from place to place, person to person. It can be put away, and then retrieved later. Thoughts a person wrote in 1981 can be then re-read in 2012. My interest in language as text begins with the development of writing, the invention of the printed word, and the mechanization of typesetting in printing multiples.