Call for Help

 Dear Members and Followers,

An important message from our president.

5^th January 2022.

Hello Everyone,

Calligraphy Southscribes is in need of your help!

After 38 years of our activity in bringing the beautiful art of calligraphy to Sutherland Shire and beyond we have reached a point where we may no longer be able to continue.  Membership is dropping and rising costs are another factor we have to consider.

The present committee who have been such stalwart providers of their time and expertise for many years would like to take a well-deserved break.

It is with great sadness that unless you our members, put up your hand to stand on the committee at our AGM on 12^th March 2022 Calligraphy Southscribes will have no alternative but to close down.

Please think about what you can do to help by standing on the committee, it is not really difficult and you all have the ability.

Your President.

Valerie Keevers.

Committee and Saturday Afternoon Workshop

Dear Members and Followers,

The next committee meeting and Saturday Afternoon workshop is on 10th May 2014.
The meeting starts at 10am all welcome.
The afternoon workshop is from 1pm to 4pm and continues the Illuminated Letter. Finish your letter, start a new one or just do your own thing. Maybe view the library books and borrow one.
All welcome. $10.00 contribution towards the afternoon is collected. 

Meeting and Saturday Afternoon Workshop

Dear Members and Followers,

Don't forget Saturday 12th April is the next committee from 10am to 12pm, all welcome. Following this, one our members Penny will be taking us through creating Japanese cards from 1pm to 4pm.

See our latest magazine or contact Valerie on secretary@calligraphysouthscribes.com for the materials list.

Committee Meeting and Informal Workshop

Dear Members and Followers,

Just a reminder that the first committee meeting and Saturday afternoon informal workshop is being held this Saturday, 1st February.

All members are invited to participate in the meeting. We would love to see you there! The informal workshop is open to all.

AGM and the President's Report

                           PRESIDENTS REPORT FOR 2012 as presented at the AGM on 9^th March.

The membership of Calligraphy SouthScribes is now small when compared with our earlier year’s, as unfortunately, Calligraphy is no longer the sought after Art form it was even a decade ago.

However, our membership remains not only constant, but very loyal, and herein lies our strength, because, as a small group, we do accomplish a lot.

Our Society encompass all skills levels, from highly experienced Calligraphers to those taking their early steps on the Calligraphic journey.

As such, we endeavour to offer workshops and lettering courses to allow any member to take part in friendly, relaxed environments, and to feel completely comfortable whilst doing so.  Our tutors are not only drawn from amongst our own talented local Calligraphers, but are pulled in from further afield, thus allowing for a greater diversity of both topics and teaching methods.

Some years ago, an earlier, and enlightened committee, decided to offer ongoing 6 to 8 week lettering classes. These have been constantly successful, and as a consequence CSS is now one of only four organisations across the entire Sydney Metropolitan area to do so. (the others are, WEA, Macquarie Community College, and North West Community College) Bearing this in mind, and given our small numbers, I think it is quite right to suggest that Southscribes are definitely punching above our weight.

2012 not only saw us present a very successful exhibition (Scripts & Scribes for all Seasons) at Hazlehurst Regional Gallery, with Rhonda Ayliffe as our featured artist , ably supported by Southscribes members who pulled out all stops to provide some fantastic art work, -- so  a huge thank you to all who took part.  Some of us (11 members) also took part in another of our fabulous collaborative projects.

These projects are great fun to do, but nevertheless have a few scary moments, especially when you have to commit pen & ink to someone else’s work. Butterflies aside, the end results are lovely, with participants being thrilled when their own original artwork is returned to them.  A special thankyou here must go to Jan Armstrong, who not only collated the finished pieces, but then presented colour copies of the originals as a beautiful, keepsake book.

In September, some of us manned a stall at the Sutherland Home Show, and although our stall had heaps of goodies for sale, not many people were buying. We had lots of interest from the passing public, and some great conversations as well, but overall it was a very disappointing weekend. 

During 2012, and following meetings to discuss this, Sutherland Council made a decision to abandon the necessity of applying for yearly grants. CSS, will now be given $1000.00 per year (as things currently stand) with no further application required. All we need to do, when prompted by Council, will be to invoice them for the amount, which will be paid directly into our bank a/c.

Council is also working towards similar societies working collaboratively in the future, especially when mounting exhibitions, although as yet, this is no more than an idea. More info as it comes to hand.  The societies suggested for us are; Continuum Art Society, Port Hacking Potters, and Sutherland Historical Society.

Our Christmas party as usual was well attended, there was more food than we could collectively eat, and a good time was had by all. One thing puzzles me though, and that is why, for a group of intelligent people, why no one got even close to a perfect score from  Carolyn’s Christmas quiz. Is it possible that Carolyn spends the year devising really hard questions, disguised as something easy, and should we all start studying now for this year’s effort.
Our next exhibition, to be held at Cronulla Central from 1^st September to 1^st November, is well underway with both planning and execution. For continuity CSS is providing the paper to all those taking part.

The theme is around the 40 suburbs of the Sutherland Shire, and currently has a working title of:  Sutherland Shire; Our Stories, Our Heritage.

At least 2 working days will be held at the Sylvania hall – the first on Saturday 20^th April – where you can come along for some advice, inspiration, discuss ideas, or simply just work on your piece.  Stay for as long or as little as you like. We will all help each other.

As this committee steps down, I would like to thank each and everyone one of you for your support and commitment, which contributed to a very successful year. May the incoming committee be every bit as successful.

Finally, but by no means least, I would like to acknowledge once again, Olivia Roberts as she joins Fran McKirdy as Patron of Southscribes. 

Don't Forget the AGM

Dear Members,

Don't forget the AGM is on this Saturday 9th March 2013 at the Sylvania Community Hall, Canberra Road, Sylvania. Check your latest magazine for details.

A Few More Responses

Who Are You?

Glenis Sheather

What Position/s do you hold at Calligraphy Southscribes?

Membership Secretary

How long have you been involved with Calligraphy?

11 Years

Why Calligraphy?

I have always been interested in writing.  At the risk of sounding positively ancient, the reason for that probably stems from learning to do “running writing” with dip pen, ink and slope card at primary school and then using dip pen and ink again for Pitman’s Shorthand when I did a Secretarial Course at Business College.

Favourite Hand and Why?

Copperplate.  Not only do I love its elegance, but once I get into a rhythm I find the “pressure-on-pressure-off” technique very relaxing.

Favourite Piece of Calligraphy Gear and Why?

My roll-up pen holders.  I like being able to place my pens in size order in their individual compartments.  Not only does it keep them safe, but it makes picking out the correct pen easier.

Most successful Calligraphy tip?

Calligraphy is not handwriting, rather you are drawing the letters, so take your time.

You would like to see Calligraphy Southscribes where in one year’s time?

I would like to see Calligraphy Southscribes have more members involved in our activities.

Who Are You?

Kay Pittman

What Position/s do you hold at Calligraphy Southscribes?

 Publicity Officer

How long have you been involved with Calligraphy?

 More years than I care to remember.

Why Calligraphy?

Always been interested in beautiful writing 

Favourite Hand and Why?

Uncial because you only need two guidelines 

Favourite Piece of Calligraphy Gear and Why?

Sheaffer cartridge pen, I always seem to go back to them, as it dries so quickly and rubbing out guidelines can be done so much quicker. 

Most successful Calligraphy tip? 

Use a candle on envelopes after writing, for waterproofing, to test try and hold under water. It works! But only if the ink is dry.

You would like to see Calligraphy Southscribes where in one year’s time? 

Still going

More About Your Committee

Who Are You?

Valerie Keevers

What Position/s do you hold at Calligraphy Southscribes?

Secretary and Public Officer.  Past President.

How long have you been involved with Calligraphy?

25 years

Why Calligraphy?

My love of colour and design, words and heraldry drew me to calligraphy as a creative outlet, when I closed my dressmaking business.

Favourite Hand and Why?

Uncial and all forms of Italic because I find them expressive and adapt easily to whatever words I am working with.  However I use all scripts from time to time.

Favourite Piece of Calligraphy Gear and Why?

The flexible pen, as I can re-create any script to highlight the emotion of the words in a piece whether it is traditional or modern in design.

Most successful Calligraphy tip?

Practise and more practise in the early stages of your adventure into calligraphy develops an undying love of the fine art and all the associated arts.

You would like to see Calligraphy Southscribes where in one year’s time?

Continuing to bring this beautiful art to the attention of people, so that it does not disappear into the sands of time, only to be lost again for hundreds of years.  By using the electronic media and any other means to our advantage, increase our membership so that we can influence others particularly the younger generation to see the advantage of using knowledge that has survived for centuries and is the basis of their taken for granted, writing skills.

Who Are You?                  

Jan Armstrong

What Position/s do you hold at Calligraphy Southscribes?   
 

Treasurer,  Scripts & Scribes for All Seasons Co-Ordinator

How long have you been involved with Calligraphy?             
2 ½ years, enthusiastic learner

Why Calligraphy?                                                                            

Discipline, Discipline, discipline

Favourite Hand and Why?                                                      

Copperplate

Favourite Piece of Calligraphy Gear and Why?                    

Coke Pen suits my messy style

Most successful Calligraphy tip?                                               

Watch, Listen & Learn

You would like to see Calligraphy Southscribes where in one year’s time?

With lots more members, old & new. The core members have so much expertise to share.  We must keep it alive.

Your Committee Answers the Hard Questions

Some weeks ago I put some hard calligraphy questions to your committee about Calligraphy Southscribes and calligraphy in general. So here we go:

Who Are You? 

 Patricia  Moody.

What Position/s do you hold at Calligraphy Southscribes?

President & second workshop co-ordinator.

How long have you been involved with Calligraphy?

Since school, but only seriously for 30 years !!!

Why Calligraphy?

A natural progression from the formal, and compulsory, Italic lessons done at school, coupled with, a love a letterforms,  art, colour & design in general.

Favourite Hand and Why?

Italic: For it’s complete versatility, vibrancy, and ability to cover all the emotions of  any piece of prose, poetry, or music. Traditional or modern, there is an Italic variation just waiting to be used!

Favourite Piece of Calligraphy Gear and Why?

Too many to name, as every writing tool can be a joy to work with. However Mitchell nibs, Parallel pens, and Ruling pens would all be near the top of the  list.

Most successful Calligraphy tip?

Don’t be too pedantic about cleaning your nibs. They are very forgiving, and mine tend to only get a wipe with a tissue rather than washed!

You would like to see Calligraphy Southscribes where in one year’s time?

Apart from retaining the wonderful core group of members who continually support our activities, it would be brilliant if we could increase our membership  and participating numbers to a higher level.

This beautiful art form has so much to offer, and as an antidote to the all pervasive new machine  and digital age, what could be a nicer activity to be involved in.

Who Are You?   

Penny Laver

What Position/s do you hold at Calligraphy Southscribes?

 Vice President and Workshop Coordinator

How long have you been involved with Calligraphy? 

For nearly 20 years

Why Calligraphy?   

Bought David Harris’ book many years ago and was very quickly hooked.

Favourite Hand and Why?  

I don’t really have a favourite; the hand I use depends on the project and the text.

Favourite Piece of Calligraphy Gear and Why?  

 John Neal’s Ruling pen, just a beautifully crafted  tool and fun to use.

Most successful Calligraphy tip?  

 Keep practising!

You would like to see Calligraphy Southscribes where in one year’s time?

A vibrant society with new members becoming involved with the beautiful art of calligraphy.