XXVI Letters Poster and Book
The
members of the San Antonio Calligraphers Guild conceived of the 26
Letters project in the summer of 1999, although it had been a
glimmer of an idea for much longer than that.
One member had seen a little alphabet book that was a
collaborative work by another calligraphy guild, and she had suggested
for several years that we do something similar.
By the summer of 1999, two members planning the covers for Flourishes,
our monthly newsletter, decided that it would be nice to get some
members to each contribute a letter of the alphabet and make that into
one of the covers for the coming year.
Shortly thereafter, another member suggested that these covers
could also be printed on high quality paper, made into a poster, and
sold for a fundraiser to replenish the dwindling Education Fund.
Then another member joined in with a suggestion that some of
the posters could be cut down and made into a small book with a
matching slipcase, and these could also be sold as part of the
fundraiser. The project
thus rapidly grew from a newsletter cover to a limited edition hard
cover accordion book with slipcase!
It was such an exciting prospect for our members, that over 50
of our 100 members quickly volunteered to take part.
Twenty-nine members contributed artwork for the actual letters,
title, logo, and ampersand by January of 2000.
The Executive Board excitedly approved a large order for the
printer in February. And
the very next day, the Treasurer realized that the money for the
printer was not in the year’s budget!
An emergency meeting of the Executive Board, the Newsletter
Committee, the Fundraising Committee, and the Education Committee
decided that the best way to continue with the project was to offer
advance sales of the poster and the limited edition books to our
members. The problem was
presented to the general membership two days later, and one hour later
we had sold enough posters and books to fund the printing of the
project. By the April
meeting, we had our lovely newsletter cover and our incredible
posters. During the
summer of 2000, a limited edition of one hundred little 26 Letters books
was completed. So many
members of the Guild took part in this project that anyone interested
in seeing their names need only consult our membership directory.
All who were involved happily worked very hard, contributing
untold hours, unsurpassed energy, and more than a few fingertips.
And all received in return an almost indescribable sense of
friendship and accomplishment. We hope all who view this project enjoy it as much as we
enjoyed the entire process of the creation of this labor of love.
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