There is a stack of left over letters printed on index cards from the experimental alphabet workshop I conducted earlier this month. And tonight they were calling my name. This issue of faces and letters just won't go away. Tape inspiration courtesy of Victoria Montgomery
Last Friday I stood in front of approximately 75 students to give an artist lecture and lead an experimental type workshop. Here's a taste of the awesomeness that ensued. In short, it was amazing and I've got a few hundred pictures to edit. More to come.
I've been invited by my alma mater to give an artist lecture on Friday, September 7.
While I feel extremely honored, it made me question what it is that I'm doing that caused them to ask me to address a group of students getting ready to enter the world of graphic design. Looking back to my very first typography course at Kansas State University and tracing that to the work I'm doing today was enlightening to say the least.
So I've decided to appropriately title my lecture, "What am I doing?" Here's the summary:
"We tend to ask ourselves this question too often — or not nearly enough. It's an uncomplicated question with a complicated answer. In this presentation, Brooke Francesi will disclose her obsession with documenting feet, nonsensical word poems, and magazine cut-outs. She'll invite you to challenge what it means to fail and discuss how one simple question can impact the creative process."
Thanks to Vince Francesi, Hunter Stark, and Victoria Montgomery for their contribution.
Last year I was asked lead the capstone course required by all Visual Communication and Design majors at IPFW (Indiana-University Purdue-University, Fort Wayne). As you might guess it was an amazing opportunity that I did not decline.
The course runs for two semesters, so my first class is preparing to exhibit this Friday, December 10 at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. We'll be kicking things off at 6:30pm with an awards ceremony and exhibition opening to follow from 7:00 - 9:00pm.
We're honored that Carla Tedeschi, Communication Design coordinator at Texas Tech University, has agreed to juror the show and will be presenting the awards during the ceremony. I'm proud of all the hard work that has been put into the show and would love to see you there!
* The exhibition opening will be catered by Chops Wine Bar if that's any incentive
In the meantime, check out the students' website at or visit the teaser show at IPFW.
A huge thank you to everyone who came out last night to support the IPFW Spring 2009 BFA Exhibition. It was a really great show with tons of intruiging work. I was especially thrilled and honored to receive the award for Best in Show. Check out some pictures from the night!
As if most people who stop by my blog don't already know, I will be graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design in May. Design students are required to explore a thesis topic and put together an exhibition based upon the thesis. My thesis explores how people interact with typography and is titled Faces.
I was also asked to be a part of the team to promote the show, along with Andrea Harvey and Erica Coffing. Below is the statement that explains the idea and inspiration behind our promotional material:
"We designed the promotional materials for this semester's VCD BFA Exhibition to bring to the forefront both the artists' work and the artists themselves, giving a human face to the exhibition. The personalized portraits of each artist endeavor to capture the individuality of every person that makes up our Student Body. By combining these artists in our own photographic versions of the 'exquisite corpse' we aim to comment on the artistic experience that each artist contributes to every other student in their graduating class. We shape and expand the work of those around us by lending a part of our talents towards this shared experience of learning."
This semester, the exhibition will be held at the Krull Gallery inside the Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne. The opening reception for the show is Friday, April 10 from 7:00 - 9:00pm. Show run dates are April 10 - April 30.
Hope to see a few of you there!
A little sneak peak of my book on the basic terminology of typography. Come to the exhibition in the Krull Gallery at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne on April 10 to see the rest!
