Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) News

For immediate release, March 2, 2010

Artists connect visual images with calligraphy at Austin-Bergstrom

AUSTIN-TEXAS, Calligraphy is an art form scripted to a travel theme in the exhibit “Travel / Places” at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Presented by the Austin based art group Capital City Scribes, “Travel / Places” combines journey related quotes in hand-scripted lettering with illustrations of places traveled.

This exhibition shows the scribes gifted ability to draw, paint and carve visual images as well as being talented calligraphers. Their works merge visual images in traditional and modern ways that support the words inscribed on the paper (or canvas).

In Dee Day’s modern mixed media piece titled “Gone to Texas,” several forms of text are layered onto the canvas as if they were covered by the sands of time. Day mixes rustic calligraphy of the 19th century west with copper plate lettering revealing famous quotes from Sam Houston, Berta Hart Nance and John Steinbeck. In the panhandle of the Texas map an inscription reads, “You are now entering Texas. Beware of Bull!”

Amy Lear’s piece harkens back to the first day of flight over one hundred years ago with a quote from Wilbur Wright. The quote, penned in Spencerian script, flows, rolls and tumbles across the frame like a paper airplane in flight. Below it a field of grass bends gracefully in the wind.

In a more traditional form of calligraphy, Abigail Hutchison utilizes an old English style of pen and ink to enshrine this quote attributed to Saint Augustine: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

All in all, ten scribes from the guild display their penmanship and visual statements in the Airside West Gallery located on the concourse behind the BookPeople bookstore, across from Gate 11, in the area of the airport past security checkpoints accessible to ticketed passengers only.

Other exhibits on display at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

“Hot Glass in a Cool City” in the Concourse glass pylon cases through April 20, 2010
Ten Austin artists display a glowing variety of glass media artwork ranging from vortex marbles, fused glass plates, mosaics and sculptured blown glass. Styles range from the sublime simplicity of a blown glass vase to the detailed intricacies of a 40" tall glass orchid.

“Looking Up” in the East Airside Gallery through April 01, 2010
See new heights and sights in the latest collection of photography provided by the Austin Shutterbug Club of Central Texas. The exhibit consists of black & white as well as vibrant color photography centered on the theme of looking up.

Source: City of Austin