IN THIS ISSUEExhibit Information • Membership News • Learning Opportunities • Chalkboard Art Extraordinaire

Graceful Envelope Contest 2015 • Gallery Space • Call for Entries entry form Pamn

s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5 b u l l e t i n

call for entries- Words for theJourney -

washington calligraphers guild • washington national cathedral exhibit for lent, 2016

The Washington National Cathedral has invited our Guild to produce a juried and invitational exhibit that will run during the liturgical season of Lent (February 10-March 26) and will highlight the work of Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD). ERD runs programs to alleviate hunger, create economic opportunities, promote health, and respond to domestic and international disasters. For more information, please visit www.episcopalrelief.org.Each year, ERD publishes a book of Lenten meditations. The purpose of the meditations is to take people on a spiritual journey as they connect their own spiritual practice to a deeper calling or promise. The text for calligraphers will come from the sacred texts that inspire the meditations. Each piece will be accompanied by the relief workers reflections on their spiritual practices and how they support the call to heal a hurting world that ERD will produce in the book.Exhibit Dates: February 10 - March 26.

Futher exhibit details and an entry form are included in this issue and on the Guild website at www.calligraphersguild.org.

The Cathedral will provide all the ERD texts and meditations to the Guild and calligraphers will select up to three to render. Please go to the following link https://episcopalrelief.box.com/s/1wmnfpqbkg5gksiy7aom081mgnizzkrx to select between one and three texts with which to work. Jurors will choose the exhibition pieces.

Calligraphers are invited to use the starting scripture/prayer/hymn/sacred text from one of the meditations for their work (sample text below). Artists may use the entire sentence or a word or phrase from the sentence. The purpose of sharing the reflections with the calligraphers is simply to inform their work, not as text to be included in his or her piece.

Sample meditation: “For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.” FROM THE

PRESIDENT...Welcome back from our summer break! Ahead of us in 2016 comes our 40th anniversary, with planning of events now underway. One event is securely in place as of early September. Please read the Call for Entries herein and plan for this exhibit that we have been invited to hold at the Washington National Cathedral next spring. It has been over 20 years since we have hung a show there and we’re really looking forward to being back at such a beautiful and busy venue. We are also hoping in 2016 to have the second of our Distinguished Lecturer Series program, a special edition of our annual party, and anything else to help us celebrate our 40th year. All ideas of some special way of celebrating are welcome! Please share and help, if you will. Look forward to seeing you all and sharing our own celebratory year. Party on, pen in hand, of course!!

All the best,

— Graceful Envelope Contest 2015 winning entry by Catherine Langsdorf. See more inside.

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The Bulletin of the Washington Calligraphers Guild is published eight times per year

from September - May with a special workshops issue in January.

The deadline for submissions for the October issue is September 15, 2015. We welcome your contributions. Please send digital files for text, photos and artwork (reflecting all levels, from

beginner to advanced) to pklinednst@aol.com. Your submissions will be interpreted as permission to use in the Bulletin, unless otherwise specified. We will use your submissions on a space-available basis and may reduce your artwork to accommodate available space. Mention in the Bulletin does

not constitute endorsement by the Washington Calligraphers Guild.

The Washington Calligraphers Guild, Inc., is a Virginia non-profit corporation, with an IRS tax designation of 501(c)(3). The guild’s mailing address is P.O. Box 3688, Merrifield, VA 22116-3688.

Visit our website at www.calligraphersguild.org.

membership newsA very warm welcome to our newest members.

We’re so very glad to have you! Lynn Ayers – Houston, Texas

Kara Branley – St. Louis, Missouri Phyllis Chapman – Forestville, Maryland

Ethan Cohen– New York, New York Audrey M. Gangwer – Seattle, Washington

Holly Hartge – Fairfax, Virginia Ginny Heidel – Falls Church, Virginia

Dana Jacobson – Birmingham, Alabama Crystale S. Marrow – Ellicott City, Maryland

Ashley Matthews – Wheaton, Maryland Phan Nguyen – Brooklyn, New York

Sandra Sharpe – Falls Church, Virginia Susan Brust Silk – Bethesda, Maryland

Sarah Spengler – Vienna, Virginia Katherine E. Teeple – Alexandria, Virginia

Dale Walker – Richmond, Kentucky

Our sincere thanks to the following members who have renewed/joined at the Sustaining, Patron and

Supporting levels. We truly appreciate your generosity!

SUSTAINING

Eddie Jackson – Villa Park, Illinois Pamn Klinedinst – Bethesda, Maryland

Jill Norvell – Reston, Virginia John F. Pfeiffer – Alexandria, Virginia

PATRON Terry Coffey – Charlottesvville, Virginia

Kathryn Gallanis – Fairfax, Virginia Jerry Jacobson – Asheville, North Carolina

Susan H. Robeson – Cochiti Lake, New Mexico

SUPPORTING Elizabeth Blinn-Howay – Baltimore, Maryland

Martha Boccalini – Oakland, California David Brookes – Richmond, California Isabel Lynne Carnes – Tucson, Arizona

Abby Chapple – Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

Bonnie Kunenetz Duke – Severna Park, Maryland Carol Durr – Pasadena, Maryland

Susan R. Easton – Silver Spring, Maryland Framer McGee's Gallery

– Bethesda, Maryland Lorraine Freeman – Darien, Illinois

Audrey M. Gangwer – Seattle, Washington Jean O. Harron – Columbus, Georgia

Elizabeth Porcher Jones – Charleston, South Carolina Elinor K. Kikugawa – Moraga, California

Barb Kornprobst – Somerset, Pennsylvania Tom Landon – Frederick, Maryland

Jill Lichty – Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Trish Malin – Alexandria, Virginia

Dan Matsumoto – Bowie, Maryland Judy Melvin – Oakmont, Pennsylvania

Amy J. Plotnick – Silver Spring, Maryland Pauline "Mike" Ridgway

– Williamsburg, Virginia Susan Brust Silk

– Bethesda, Maryland Janet Lynne Surrency – Alexandria, Virginia

Sally Wightkin – Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Gerald Williamson – San Antonio, Texas

washington calligraphers guild — board of directors —

– officers –president: Pamn Klinedinst

pklinednst@aol.com / 301-654-6049

vice president: Gretchen Elson gmelson@cox.net / 703-591-5482

treasurer: Derrick C. Tabor dtab221@yahoo.com / 301-330-7729

secretary: Gilda Penn gildapenn@comcast.net / 301-315-0330

member-at-large: Tiiu Kera t.kera@verizon.net / 202-547-8295

registered agent: Bob Flory bobandsue@theflorys.net / 703-569-4331

– standing committees –audit: John Stackpole

jstackpo@alum.mit.edu / 301-292-9479

budget & finance: Derrick C. Tabor dtab221@yahoo.com / 301-330-7729

bulletin liaison: Pamn Klinedinst pklinednst@aol.com / 301-654-6049

education: Monica Ciminomocimino@verizon.net / 301-926-6385

exhibits: Maureen Squiresmaursquires@gmail.com

fundraising/calligrafest co-chairs: can you help?

librarian / archivist: Lucinda Fitch Wright LFWright214@gmail.com

mailings: Phyllis Ingram / 703-385-9750 pgingram1@verizon.net

membership: Sue Flory bobandsue@theflorys.net / 703-569-4331

nominating: appointed in January

programs: can you help?

publicity: Felecia McFail publicity_wcg@fohta.com / 703-892-6262

scholarship: Marta Legeckis morkaleg@yahoo.com / 301-493-8907

scripsit liaison: can you help?

website: Lorraine Swerdloff swerdloff@gmail.com / 202-723-4635

workshops: Christine Tischer chris@calligraphybychris.com / 301-745-4633

— a few lettersof a new alphabet

designed by Phawnda Moorefor Chameleon Pens

raise your hand!

Join us for the 2016 International Calligraphy Conference

June 25 - July 2, 2016

Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa, North Carolina

The conference is now accepting $100 registrations that give you perks like a priority number for choosing classes when our international faculty is announced this fall!

Register online at www.AShowofHands2016.comor mail checks to PO Box 1521, Fairview, North Carolina 28730.

For more information contact us at support@ashowofhands2016.com.

Sponsored by the Black Mountain Center for the Arts.

Learning Opportunities:fall wcg workshopsGretchen E lson: beginning calligraphy

Part I: Saturday, September 26; Part II: Saturday, October 17, Vienna Arts Society, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

This class is an introduction to the basics of calligraphy for those with limited or no experience with pen and ink. In the first session, we will cover the language of calligraphy, the mechanics of pen and ink and paper, and the Foundational minuscule (lower case) alphabet and their combination to form words with emphasis on form and spacing. The second session will review questions about minuscule letters and work on the construction

and proportions of Roman capitals. Instructor will provide all supplies at a cost of approximately $30.

Margaret Morgan: lettering as drawingOctober 9, 10, 11 & 12, Sheila Waters’ Studio, Fairfield, Pennsylvania

Class is fully subscribed at this time. Waiting list is available.

Sheila Waters: versals – from roman through gothic variation

November 7-8, Sheila Waters’ Studio, Fairfield, Pennsylvania

In illuminated manuscripts, a Versal is the large capital that begins a verse (usually of the Bible or Psalter) or a paragraph of text. Classical Roman capitals were the model in the Carolingian era, usually undecorated, gradually becoming more florid and “Lombardic” in the Gothic period, with decoration of increasing complexity. They reverted to Roman capitals in the Italian Renaissance and were used plain or with white vine decoration for important pages. The Roman Versals were built up of multiple strokes with a narrow-cut quill, often in red, blue or green, and filled in by flooding the color between the wet strokes. Modern Versals can be constructed in the same way with hairline serifs, or with overlapping strokes without serifs. These built-up capitals are invaluable where written capitals are not formal enough. The construction is also an alternative way of making traditional complex Roman capitals, without varying pressures and manipulations. After looking at examples of the many varieties of Versals, classical and modern, as single initial letters and together for headings, and reviewing their basis of Roman Capital proportions and discussing their constructions, we will tackle the classical types with hairline serifs, filled in solid and with open outlines and decorative fill-ins. Then we will try modern versions and freer styles, with overlapping strokes and without serifs (e.g. styles used by Ann Hechle and others). Level: Some experience with pen work is helpful.

Limited space is still available.

More information for all classes can be found under Workshops on the WCG website: www.calligraphersguild.org.

smithsonian associates Marta Legeckis will be teaching “Introduction to Calligraphy: the Foundational Hand.” The course, which begins on October 14, will run for eight weeks and will meet on Wednesday evenings at the Smithsonian.

Lee Ann Clark will be teaching “Introduction to Pointed Pen Calligraphy” which will begin on October 19 and will meet on Monday evenings at the Smithsonian.

For class description and registration information for both of these classes, please visit the Smithsonian Associates website at http://smithsonianassociates.org.

montgomerycollegewww.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce

Maureen Squires will be teaching “Calligraphy Art.” This course will be geared to the interests of the participants. Begin with a Simple Roman alphabet to learn the basics of pen angle and pen scale, terms and handling of tools. You will then progress to a Roman with serifs. Students with experience can study the scripts of their choice, ranging from Classical Roman, Uncial, Half-Uncial, Gothic, Italic, Bookhands to English Roundhand. All students will work on projects throughout the course, which can range from interpretations of poetry and prose to calendars, logos, stationery or alphabet studies. Course runs from September 22 - December 1.

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LIVING WITH LINES AND LETTERS

christ congregational church9525 colesville rd, silver spring, maryland

august 23 - october 31, 2015

Representative works by Maureen M. Squiresincluding paintings, both calligraphic and expressive over a

20-year period

These two works by Marta Legeckis are the result of a week’s study with Georgia Angelopoulos at the Passionate Pen Conference. The first piece (left) was learning Greek writing with its ligatures, shared stems and lower case letters nestled within the upper case. In the second (below), the top is Roman lettering and the bottom is Greek. Negative spaces were gilded using Ormaline as the size.

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by

Below: left to right: Carol DuBosch’s entry for the California Poppy project

at The Passionate Pen International Calligraphy Conference in Sonoma,

California; “Wise Advice” by Victoria Lockhart; Logo design for a wedding

by Mary Lou O’Brian

chalkboard art janice reyes

Over the summer, I had the privilege to do chalk lettering for an Annapolis publication’s weddings issue. The site for the photo shoot was historic McDowell Hall at St. John’s College, with the classroom serving as an artistic backdrop. Romantic quotes from Emily Brontë and Elizabeth Barrett Browning were the subjects.

I had not worked with this medium before, so doing online research was crucial. I shaved the chalk’s blunt edge with an X-acto knife and a metal pencil sharpener to achieve a pointed tip. Working from a sketch, I started with a rough outline and then lettered each word in monoline. I then filled in the appropriate shades to approximate script calligraphy. Adding botanical flourishes helped to balance out the quote. Finally, I cleaned up the negative space with a dampened paper towel. After tackling the bigger chalkboard, working smaller scale was much easier. Overall, the process was fun and I felt the style of lettering fit the airy and romantic tone they wanted. — Janet Reyes

“there’s no place like home”21st Annual Graceful Envelope Contest

E

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ntrants from Kansas to South Africa illustrated, embellished and mailed their handcrafted masterpieces in the annual competition that celebrates the art of written correspondence. The Graceful Envelope Contest, now in its 21st year, is sponsored by Washington Calligraphers Guild in conjunction with the National Association of Letter Carriers. Coordinating the contest is WCG’s Lorraine Swerdloff.

The 2015 theme, “There’s No Place Like Home,” inspired designs about skylines, The Wizard of Oz, Planet Earth, baseball and penguins, among the many other ideas that participants chose to showcase.

A trio of judges selected this year’s contest winners: WCG members and professional calligraphers Marta Legeckis and Maureen Squires, and NALC designer Mike Shea. They looked for creative interpretation of the theme, skill in lettering and illustration, clever incorporation of postage, and effective use of color and design, among other criteria.

“Best of Show” was awarded to Hannah C. Holder of Knoxville, Tennessee, for a skilled and creative entry that featured a homing pigeon carrying an important message (shown above). Other unforgettable entries translated the theme to include a variety of subjects, such as full refrigerators, Hogwarts and military service members. As always, the submissions themselves were envelopes that passed through the regular mail stream.

A dozen envelopes were selected as “Winners” and 15 were given the distinction of “Honorable Mention.” The judges also picked student winners from more than 350 entries in grades 1-4, grades 5-8 and grades 9-12 youth divisions. continued on page 7...

“there’s no place like home”(con’t...)

All winning and honorable mention adult entries are on display in the lobby of the NALC Headquarters building in Washington until next summer, and winning entries in all of the categories can be seen on our website www.calligraphersguild.org.

More winning entries:above left, Gerry Jackson Kerdok;left, Nadejda Varioucitcheva

gallery

space

Above right: “Micah” by Elizabeth Foster; above: a workplace reminder by Michelle Howk

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directions to guild meetingsConcord–St. Andrews Church

5910 Goldsboro RoadBethesda, Maryland 20817-6034

Concord-St. Andrews Church sits on a hill at the intersection of River Road and Goldsboro Road in Bethesda, Maryland. Take the Beltway to River Road (exit 39 towards Washington). Turn left onto Goldsboro Road. The driveway

to the church property is almost immediately to the right. Enter the Social Hall through the first door on the left side of the church. Board meetings are

held in the Chapel on the main level of the church.

p.o. box 3688, merrifield, va 22116 • www.calligraphersguild.org

address service requested 9 / 2015

nonprofit org.u.s. postage

paidmerrifield vapermit no. 742

— more Graceful Envelope winning entries by Christy Robb (left) Amy Neubauer (above).

call for entries- Words for theJourney -

washington national cathedral exhibit for lent, 2016

— A Juried and Invitational Exhibit produced by Washington Calligraphers Guild —

about the space: The exhibit will be housed in the seventh floor gallery of the Washington National Cathedral -

accessible by elevator.

eligibility and conditions: This call is open to all members of Washington Calligraphers Guild. All entries must be non-production work. Work must framed no larger than 24”x 30” or in a hanging book form. The Guild reserves the right to reject work that does not meet these requirements. The Cathedral reserves the right to refuse work they deem to be inappropriate. Work may be available for sale or must be identified as NFS. No sales commission is taken. Sales will go through the WCG Treasurer. Washington National Cathedral reserves the right to photograph art work for the purpose of documentation or publicity.

important dates: The Cathedral will provide all the ERD texts/meditations to the Guild. Please use following link: https://episcopalrelief.box.com/s/1wmnfpqbkg5gksiy7aom081mgnizzkrx to select between one and three texts to render.

Only the meditation portion, in whole or excerpted, should be part of the finished work. Send high quality color prints or photos (5”x 7” or 8”x 10”) for jurying by DECEMBER 15, 2015 to:

Maureen Squires, 314 Whitestone Road, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901

Prints will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-adressed, stamped envelope.

ship work from out of town by JANUARY 22, 2016 to:

Pamn Klinedinst, 5000 Battery Lane, #803, Bethesda Maryland, 20814

hanging of the exhibit will take place on Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9, 2016. Local work will be received Monday morning at the Cathedral between 9 and 12 p.m. only. Check the WCG website for further details.

show opening: A reception will be held Sunday, February 14, 2016 between 3 and 5 p.m.

submission information: Please contact Maureen Squires with any questions at maursquires@gmail.com.-Please attach the following information to the back of your piece. Please mail or email the information to

maursquires@gmail.com or fax to 301.593.3405 by JANUARY 15, 2016 so that a price sheet and labels can be prepared for the exhibit.

name

address

city state/province zip country

phone mobile email

title of work price

media

I hereby agree to all terms and conditions of this exhibit.

signature date