Opening Reception of Calligraphies in Conversation
“Calligraphies in Conversation” 4th International Exhibition Fosters New Dialogue Between Different Calligraphic Arts And Artists
Opening Reception: Sunday, September 17
1- 3 p.m.: Calligraphy Presentations at Koret Auditorium on the Lower Level (below First Floor)
3- 5 p.m.: Curator’s Tour and meeting the artists at Skylight Gallery on the Sixth Floor from
Address: San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
On Sunday, September 17, at 1- 5 p.m. at the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), the international calligraphy exhibition “Calligraphies in Conversation” will open with a public reception. The exhibition is one of the few of its kind exploring connections between calligraphy traditions and practices from different cultures and languages through the world.
At the opening reception of the “Calligraphies in Conversation” on Sunday, September 17, 2017 (1- 5 p.m. at SFPL) attendees can view the artwork and meet other local artists. There will be calligraphy presentations and panel discussion at Koret Auditorium on the first floor at 1- 3 p.m. with the theme of “How to Enjoy Calligraphy” in which Arash Shirinbab, Rick Paulus, and Kristian Kabuay will present to the audience the nuances of Arabic-Persian, Latin, and Baybayin calligraphy traditions and walk the participants through the path of enjoying calligraphy without necessarily understanding the content of the writing.
There will be Curator’s Tour and meeting the artists at Skylight Gallery on the sixth floor at 3- 5 p.m.
Refreshments will be served, and the reception is open to all and is free of charge.
About the Presenters
Rick Paulus: As a former US Navy Persian linguist, I have enjoyed a long appreciation for Iran, its culture, and its people. I have also experienced the animosity between our governments, which aims to separate our peoples. I selected this Saadi Shirazi poem for its message of the connectivity of humankind. It was a pure pleasure to immerse myself in Persian traditions as I developed this work, while considering Saadi's words and my friends from throughout the world.
Arash Shirinbab: Arash Shirinbab is an award winning artist and calligrapher and has managed to be a successful blend of artist, Arabic-Persian calligrapher, and designer, as well as art administrator, art curator, and entrepreneur for the past ten years. He studied Industrial and product design at University of Tehran from 2001 to 2006 and earned BA and MA in the field of design. In 2008 he engaged in classical study of traditional Arabic-Persian calligraphy scripts under masters from the Iranian Calligraphists Association and learned two of the oldest calligraphy scripts. He has participated in over 70 exhibitions (over 10 solos) nationally and internationally in the U.S., Spain, Poland, Canada, Russia, France, Italy, and Iran.
Kristian Kabuay: Kristian is a leading authority for the propagation and instruction of the Philippine script, he developed a modern performance style of the writing system called Tulang Kalis (Poetry of the Sword) and introduced it as preFilipino Calligraphy with a series of live demonstrations and lectures at the Asian Art Museum in October 2012. He has spoken at numerous schools and institutions such as Stanford University, UC Berkeley, SF State University, UC Davis, Sonoma State, University of the Philippines, National Anthropology Museum of Madrid, and the San Francisco Philippine Consulate.
About Calligraphies in Conversation 2017
Over 70 artworks will be on display at the Skylight Gallery SFPL with a range of diverse traditions and languages including an array of Latin, Chinese, Japanese, Baybayin, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Armenian, and Hindi traditional calligraphy artworks as well as manifestations of calligraphy in some contemporary and abstract art pieces.
