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Recent Acquisitions Releases Press Release Archive |
Tyler Museum of Art Presents Calligraphy Artist and Author Tyler, TX—Christopher Calderhead, calligraphy artist and graphic designer, will present a free calligraphy demonstration at the Tyler Museum of Art July 15, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Museum visitors will have the opportunity to watch as Calderhead demonstrates various calligraphy arts, such as those used to create The Saint John’s Bible, now on display at the Tyler Museum of Art. Caldherhead, author of the book Illuminating the Word: The Making of The Saint John’s Bible, is also the guest speaker for a TMA members-only lecture and book signing the same day at 6 p.m. in Tyler Junior College’s Wise Auditorium, directly across from the TMA at 1300 S. Mahon. Tickets for the lecture are free to Museum members but must be reserved in advance by calling (903)595-1001. Calderhead’s education and professional experience have made him uniquely qualified for his supportive role with The Saint John’s Bible. After earning a bachelor’s degree in art history from Princeton, he studied at the Roehampton Institute in London leading to a certificate with merit in calligraphy and bookbinding. In 1988 Calderhead was elected to Fellowship in the English Society of Scribes and Illuminators. (Illuminators are illustrators of hand-written books, whose drawings “illuminate” or explain the stories. The term also refers to the substantial use of 24-karat gold in the artwork, which appears to make the illustrations glow on the pages.) After opening and operating a New York studio where he produced manuscript books, commercial lettering and design, Calderhead returned to school, this time to obtain a Master of Divinity degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. He was ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in 1998, and has served parishes in the Church of England and the Episcopal Church USA. He produced a radio series for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2002, “Looking for Spirituality at Tate Modern.” More recently, Calderhead has focused his energies on teaching workshops in lettering and the arts, and producing his own artwork of collage, assemblage and site-specific installation. His book, One Hundred Miracles, a collection of miracle paintings by the great masters, was published in 2004. He also serves as editor of Alphabet, a journal of the lettering arts published by the Friends of Calligraphy. “We feel very fortunate to have as a guest speaker and presenter someone with the talent and perspective of Christopher Calderhead,” said Kimberley Tomio, TMA director. She added that his demonstration was being offered free to the public as a means of encouraging others to appreciate the art of calligraphy, and as part of the Museum’s ongoing commitment to art education. Illuminating the Word: The Saint John’s Bible, on display at the Tyler Museum of Art through September 3, was organized by The Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Saint John’s University, and made possible by a grant from Target Stores. The Saint John’s Bible, commissioned by the Benedictine monks of Saint John’s University at a cost in excess of $4 million, is considered the most significant hand-written, hand-illuminated Bible to be commissioned since the invention of the printing press. The exhibition in Tyler includes pages from the first three completed volumes: Pentateuch, Gospels and Acts, and Psalms. The artistic director of The Saint John’s Bible, Donald Jackson, still works daily in his scriptorium in Wales, where he and a select group of artists and calligraphers push to complete the project. When completed in 2007, the Bible will consist of 1150 pages in seven volumes. Then it will be housed permanently at the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where it will be used in worship and be available to scholars and the public. After leaving Tyler in September, the exhibition will be displayed in the Library of Congress and at art museums in Naples, Florida; Phoenix and Mobile. Tyler Museum of Art is the only Texas venue for the exhibition. Illuminating the Word: The Saint John’s Bible, which fills all three galleries at the Tyler Museum of Art, is a ticketed exhibition, with free admission to TMA members. Admission fees are $10 for adults; $8 for seniors (65+) and college students with ID; $5 for children 13-17; $2 for children 3-12. Special group rates are available for churches, clubs and organizations, or tour groups with advance reservations. Call 903-595-1001 for group reservations and details. Tyler Museum of Art is handicap accessible, and includes the Museum Café and Museum Gift Shop. Exhibition hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; and closed Mondays and major holidays. Local support for the exhibition has been provided by lead sponsors Vernon and Amy Faulconer, The Robert M. Rogers Foundation and The Junior League of Tyler, Inc.; major sponsor The A.W. Riter, Jr. Family Foundation; supporting sponsors Su Holder, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Irwin; sponsors The Byars Foundation, Mildred H. Grinstead, Hibbs-Hallmark & Company, Bette and Jack King, Sr., The Rowland Foundation, The R.W. Fair Foundation, Tyler Building Systems, and Venu and Elsie Rao. Corporate member sponsors for the exhibition include Dermatology Associates of Tyler, Southside Bank, Bank of America, Tyler; and Tyler Cancer Center. Media sponsorship has been provided by CBS 19, Cox Communications, KETK-TV, KLTV-TV Channel 7 and KTRE-TV Channel 9, Tyler Morning Telegraph, and Tyler Today Magazine. Additional underwriting has been provided by Dillard’s, Inc.; Kirk A. and Jeannette Deas Calhoun, and Judge and Mrs. Tom B. Ramey, Jr. In-kind sponsors include Aaron’s and The Home Depot. |