Calligraphy Society of South Australia
by Roly Eime
Calligraphy in South Australia was a fairly lonely pursuit until the
early 1980’s. The only other calligrapher I knew was my fellow librarian
Tony Lea. We were astonished and delighted to see one of Frank Caspers'
one man shows in the mid 1970’s and arranged to meet with him for
social and technical talk.
Ruth Venner arrived in Adelaide and soon made herself known, and Don
Hatcher came from New Zealand to lecture in graphic design at the SACAE,
so coffee times became a little more boisterous.
Ruth, through her contacts with the Crafts Council, found out about
the coming Donald Jackson tour and workshops…. but he would only come
to workshops organized by a Society. The cost was a little daunting, as
we didn’t know if there was a market for such an event, but ‘nothing
ventured…’ and a meeting was advertised and held in the Library
of the SACAE on December16, 1983. (An auspicious date, being the anniversary
of the births of Ludwig von Beethoven and Jane Austen.) About a dozen people
turned up and decided "That we form the Calligraphy Society of South
Australia", with Frank Caspers elected as Chairman, Roland Eime as
Secretary/Treasurer, and Ruth Venner, Don Hatcher and Kevin Keeler as Committee
members. Meetings were set for the 2nd Friday of alternate months, commencing
in February, with the AGM in December. The general tone of the Society
was set by the last item on the agenda, ‘Conversation and Coffee’,
a tradition which continues and does much to preserve and promote the friendly
character of the Society.
Taking on the organization of the Donald Jackson workshop was a big
task for such a small group, but the twenty participants who met in October
1984 formed the major part of the Society for the next few years, and many
of them were encouraged to start classes for those inspired by Jackson's
visit. (There were over 120 people at the public lecture as well as the
workshop participants).
Other overseas visitors who have been welcomed over the years include
Rosemary Sassoon, Thomas Ingmire, Anne Hechle, Charles Pearce, Suzanne
Haines and Denis Brown. All have made an impact and led us on journeys
in calligraphy we would never have otherwise attempted on our own.
An important step forward was taken in 1986, when the first issue of
the Society’s Newsletter was published. Thanks to the efforts of the
editors (not unmixed with a little friendly nagging of contributors from
time to time) this has continued, and provides a valuable means of communication,
encouragement and a friendly platform for sharing ideas, discoveries and
examples of work.
Several members had been giving private workshops (Frank Caspers’
residential courses in Mildura for example), and in 1987 the Society decided
to have regular workshops to cater for the expressed needs of members.
The first year’s program consisted of workshops on Hatching, by Heather
Booth, Framing and mounting, by Frank Caspers, and Curlicues and filigree,
by Sue Zanker.
The workshop program has continued over the years with varying success,
but a major aim has been to take advantage (in the nicest possible way!)
of members' talents, and to encourage them to share their calligraphic
skills with others. Recently the Society has broadened the scope of workshop
topics to include associated crafts such as marbling, lino cutting and
decorative painting.
In 1987, the Society’s first Annual Exhibition was held in the
Chesser Gallery. These have continued in various venues since then, and
provide that most valuable thing for a calligrapher - a deadline. The hesitant
have been encouraged and have been offered advice on presentation, layout
etc., at special sessions, with a view to making the exhibitions representative
of all members.
Members have also given demonstrations at Craft Shows and similar events,
which provide an opportunity to present our craft to the public. In the
last few years we have been able to set up at the annual Mediaeval Fair,
with some members entering into the full spirit by dressing in appropriate
garb.
The Calligraphy Society of South Australia now meets on the 2nd Friday
of each month giving members the opportunity to hear guest speakers, to
see demonstrations of various aspects of calligraphy and to borrow from
the extensive library.
As a founding Member of the Society I am pleased to see that the words
‘friendly’ and ‘encouraging’ keep appearing in the
above account, qualities which are not often apparent in the long term
in many groups. Perhaps calligraphers have ‘The write stuff’?
Roland Eime
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