In Search Of An Alternative Habitat For The Written Word | A Calligraphic Workshop To House Diverse Voices

November 7th, 14th, 21st, 2021

Virtual Workshop led by Sina Goudarzi

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In Search Of An Alternative Habitat For The Written Word is a Zoom-based three-session workshop hopes to open a conversation engaging diverse voices through the language and space of the written word. The workshop introduces concepts of self-expression in creating space through the medium of calligraphy. Participants will go through the process of beginning a personal quest to establish a narrative for expressing this space, a search to visualize this narrative through hand-written words of their chosen language and choose a new alternative habitat for its expression. This dialogue between space and language is essential to calligraphy and is the focus of this workshop. 

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This workshop aims to explore the following principles:

    • Self- expression through composing space

    In this practice, the participants will be encouraged to work with the written word in composing visual spaces that create various distances between the visual space and the readability or meaning of the words. Exploring positive and negative spaces and texture are some of the tools along this journey.

  • The Inner-Self
The exploration of the Inner-Self through analysis and synthesis of the expressive spatial quality of written words. 

    • Calligraphy’s Place
Language is an assembled coherence, constructed not only within us or the exterior world, but in-fact between the world and our experience of it. Where does calligraphy live? Between us, within us or elsewhere. Seeking answers to this question begins with the inner-self and continues through the examination of other possibilities out in the world. This personal search may lead to diverse forms of expression reflecting each individual’s personal point of view.

    • What is calligraphy?
In asking: what is calligraphy? We engage self-expressive language and self-expressive space as the two main components of calligraphy.

    • Language:
Language will be viewed through three approaches:
    - Literal
    - Verbal
    - Visual
this workshop will explore the power of language as a medium for bringing us together and connecting us.

November 7th | Session I. Introducing the principals of space, repetition and frame utilizing Islamic calligraphy (nastaliq)

1. Concept of space making with words through reviewing historic examples of
   siah-mashq by multiple calligraphers of Nastaliq style in Iran

2. Reviewing examples of calligraphy in different habitats

3. Brief presentation of writing tools and exploring options of other tools that can be used in this workshop

4. Establishing a personal narrative for space making. This narrative can be literal, verbal or visual (participants will present a narrative for next session)

5. Practical demonstration of writing a siah-mashq

November 14th | Session II. Composing space utilizing written word and self-narrative

1. Participants share their narratives with others

2. Practice sheets (warming up the hand)

3. Evaluating the participants approaches for the desired final outcome

November 21st | Session III. Final presentation

1. Presentations, observations and listening: Sharing personal impressions 

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