This exhibition presents a broad historical and geographic survey of a disappearing art form: the art of writing with the hand. The works, drawn from JMU Library’s Special Collections and from the Madison Art Collection include religious texts, legal documents, and personal correspondence. Each example, from the page of a sixteenth-century illuminated manuscript to a sheet of Islamic calligraphy, demonstrates both the beauty and the utility of handwriting.
IVS Course Exhibition
November 27-December 14
In the multidisciplinary course The history and Practice of East Asian Calligraphy, students learned the fundamentals of calligraphy and brush painting, and investigated their historical, religious and philosophical backgrounds. In East Asian cultures, the practice is viewed not simply as a writing system, but as an art form. The final exhibition presents the students’ semester projects, which explore the political, spiritual, and commercial uses of calligraphy, as well as its influence in our own times.
IVS Colloquia (Wednesdays at 12):
September 19- Julia Merkel (JMU Libraries)
Im/Permanence of Word and Image
Julia will discuss issues that affect the longevity of documents and images, from choice of material to storage environment.
CANCELLED -October 17- Dawn McCusker (Graphic Design)- CANCELLED
Revival of the Fittest: Letterpress and Book Arts in the 21st Century
Dawn McCusker will discuss the development of the letterpress printing and book arts curriculum at JMU. Her presentation will explore possible reasons for the resurgence of these art and design forms, as well as the importance of technology in a centuries’ old process. Finally, she will discuss the creation of a multidisciplinary center for book arts at the university.
November 14- Howard Lubert (Political Science)
Getting Angry Six Times A Week: Editorial Cartoons as Political Argument
Dr. Lubert will discuss the role and influence of editorial cartoons in American politics. In his presentation he will discuss some of the iconic cartoons from this tradition, as well as the challenges of using them in the classroom.
Special Event- Monday, October 15, 7:30 in Harrison Hall, Room 2105
The Institute for Visual Studies is proud to present Dr. Angela Zito, Director of NYU's Center for Religion and Media (www.angelazito.com), who will be screening and discussing her new film “Writing in Water,” which examines the social life of calligraphy as practiced in a Beijing park.
