(in person)
Where: James Ford Bell Library; 15F Andersen Library; 222 21st Ave South; Minneapolis, MN; 5455
This is a well lit, large class/presentation space on the lower level, right next to the exhibit space for JF Bell. (Note: this is not the Reading Room, where we met the last time.)
the james ford bell library:
The James Ford Bell Library (part of the Archives & Special Collections of the Andersen Library of the University of Minnesota) makes history come alive through its premier collection of rare books, manuscripts, maps, archival collections, and other materials that document the history and impact of trade and cultural exchange prior to ca. 1800 CE.
topic
Medieval Manuscripts & Decorated Letters, with Lettering
Analysis
Member, Janey Westin will be our guide while at the James Ford Bell Museum.
She will give a demo on what it means to analyze a lettering hand and then how to create a personal “style” of alphabet based on that analysis.
We will look at the original exemplar and then be guided by her understanding of the letters, writing them according to their families arranged by similarities in pen strokes that will have you anticipating what comes next, why these letters are cohesive, and how to control your letters using your "carpenter's eye".
Attendees will choose a manuscript page from the singular leaves in the Ege Collection (a 1285 Latin Missal Manuscript page), analyze the lettering hand of their chosen leaf, and come up with their own alphabet exemplar.
This is an exciting (and rare!) opportunity to train your eye and learn an essential calligraphy skill from original documents.
From Janey:
Jean Formo always encourages us to "play" in the studio, which is something that's hard for me to do. I will show the results of my playing as I try to find a way to use these letters in an untraditional graphic way.
Materials Required
We will be using chisel-edge markers. NO LIQUID INK is allowed in the room.
Please bring a 2.5mm calligraphy marker - brand does not matter, but Janey will have guide sheets available to coincide with a 2.5mm marker (suggestions in links below).
Paper - inexpensive drawing paper or even copy paper - as long as your marker does not bleed
Calli Italic Creative Manuscript Marker, size M - Blick Art Materials, item #209912022
Speedball Elegant Writer , size M - Blick Art Materials, item #208612020
These can probably be found at Michaels or Wet Paint as well.
A little about janey
Today Janey Westin is a stone letter carver and sculptor, but she began her career as a calligrapher, a path that was inspired by the art she experienced when she was a Rotary Exchange student to Japan in 1975–76.
After receiving her B.A. in Japanese language from the U of M in 1980, she embarked on an extensive career as a calligrapher, learning the many paper-related skills. In 1984 she turned to stone letter carving, and in 1997 she began marble sculpting.
In 2001 she and her father, Robert G. Johnson, adjunct professor of geophysics at the University of Minnesota, examined the Kensington Runestone in Alexandria, and in 2012 they published The Last Kings of Norse America: Runestone Keys to a Lost Empire. Over the past 30 years she has taught and lectured on these topics as well as medieval manuscripts and rune carving.
Janey Westin
Member Programs are free for members. However, members are encouraged to bring guests to our in person programs who can attend one free program in a season.