I’m a Fool for Type
Last weekend, I organized the wood type I acquired last year. First, I organized them by letter — I have a lot of the letters O, N, and E, but few or none of the letters I was looking for (S, R, and W) when I bought them. Then, I grouped the letters by typeface — I have some lovely specimens.
I did this because I was going to sell some of them. I posted them on craigslist and a few interested people contacted me. But, after going through it all, I realized how much I love these letters and I don’t think I can part with any of them (even though I can get $5 to $20 a piece). I really enjoy looking at them and I’m looking forward to using them in my work. At least I finally organized it all. Plus, instead of keeping them in boxes, now they’re displayed throughout my apartment.
For even thinking about selling these gorgeous, not-so-easy-to-find letters, I realized that I’m a total…
Filed Under: Junk Finds + Obsessions + Typography
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The Skin Project
“Skin” is a project by writer Shelley Jackson where participants have a word tattooed on them (in a classic book typeface) from a story, that is known only the participants. I heard about it a few years ago (I might have even applied) but forgot about until tonight. I don’t know why it popped in my brain.
I just emailed her expressing my interest in participating. My chances are slim because she has over 10,000 new applicants and only 692 spots available. It’s worth a shot.
Like I wrote in my email to her, I don’t have a profound reasoning for interest in participating. I just love words, typography, and projects that involve multiple participants. Plus, the idea of being part of a story written on flesh that’s walking around this planet in very exciting to me.
I don’t have any tattoos (yet), just a lot of scars. I’ve been thinking about them lately. I have a a few ideas involving type and math that have been bouncing around my brain for years. Soon they’ll be out of my skull and on my skin.
Filed Under: Skin + Tattoos + Typography + Words
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This is not a Link Dump
I’ve never liked the term link dump because… it just sounds nasty. Regardless, here is list of recent internet finds (in addition to the ones from my Ma.gnolia feed):
- Advertising that Fucks with your Head
- This is really scary, awesome, and weird.
- WFMU’s Top Ten of 2007 Lists
- It’s that time of the year kids. DJs from WFMU list their top ten picks of 2007. A great source for new music. My first stop is always the list from Dan Bodah, host of Airborn Event and one of the few participants in my visitor Polaroid project.
- Look
- Sounds interesting: “Shot entirely from the point of view of the security cameras. Adam Rifkin’s Look follows several interweaving, storylines over the course of a random week in a random city.”
- 40+ Excellent Free Fonts for Professional Design
- There are some decent typefaces here, considering they’re free. Of course, most people are surprised to find out that they have to buy fonts. If they only knew how much time is put in to designing a typeface. That gives me an idea: I’ve started designing a typeface of my own and I might document the process here.
- Polaroid Pictures of Signs from the 1960s
- Sign porn.
- Guide to Greener Electronics
- Greenpeace’s ranking of the top electronic producers and their policies on toxic chemicals and recycling. Apple is surprising low on the list.
Not a link, but worth mentioning. At the Book Arts Guild’s next monthly meeting there will be a talk and slide show on How to Judge a Book by Its Cover: The Art and History of 19th Century Book Cover Design. It’s at the Firehouse Gallery on January 9th at 6:30 PM ($5 suggested donation).
Filed Under: Bits ’n’ Pieces + Links + Signage + Typography
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A Monumental Find
Where there is much light,
the shadows are the deepest
—Goethe
Fellow DIYer (she roasts her own coffee beans!) and junk hunter, Laura, found monumental drafting supplies for sale on craigslist. She asked if I wanted to split this load of potentially interesting stuff and I agreed without hesitation.
Last night, we drove Barre to pickup our loot and brought it back to my apartment to sift through it all. We got hundreds of drawings; metal letter stencils of various sizes in numerous cigar boxes and wooden cases; dozens of hand-lettered type specimens; and a 1947 edition of the American Monument Association’s Memorial Symbolism, Epitaphs and Design Types.
The woman who sold us the supplies inherited them from her father after he died. He created the lettering and designs that were engraved on gravestones.
It was odd looking at the lettering and drawings for someone’s grave that was done by someone who is now deceased. I wonder if he designed his own gravestone.
Filed Under: Junk Finds + Typography
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I Love Dumps and Type
This should keep me busy for awhile.
Filed Under: Junk Finds + Typography
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Helvetica
Being the type geek that I am, I’ve been anticipating the release of Helvetica. There are a few screenings near here: Troy, NY and Montreal, PQ. Anyone interested in a road trip?
Here’s a clip with Neville Brody (one of my favorite designers) and Rick Poynor:
And one with Erik Spiekermann with a lovely Berlin montage:
I’m obviously a typomaniac. Which is an incurable, if not mortal, disease… I just like looking at type, they are my friends… other people look at bottles of wine or girls’ bottoms, I get kicks out of looking at type.
More clips: Experimental Jetset and Wim Crouwel