Over at A Letter A Week 2013 there have been some amazing alphabets being created. One of the alphabets had a theme (as per usual) and this year it was peace. Not an easy one to interpret or create to; but we have some fabulous responses emerging, and some completed works as well.
Like everybody, I pondered my peace alphabet for quite awhile, and in the end decided to set myself the challenge of finding peace mentioned in the newspapers we read each week; and then doing my letter over the top in a hand I am not familiar with - Neuland style. Some weeks, I couldn't find a mention of peace; some times I hit the jackpot and there were three or four mentions.
I enjoyed writing on the newsprint - it is an easy every-day material, and graphite/pencil seemed like an ordinary material to use as well. Hoping in a way that peace could be an everyday kind of thing I guess.
When it came to putting them all together, I thought of a corkboard - like pinning up things I had cut out from the newspaper on a board.
The analytical side of me had been recording where I found the word peace and in what context; so I made up an extra top 10 mentions squares as well - and included them in the final piece.
I am playing with the idea of it being more random - but for now the structure and the grid hold me.
My lettering needs a fair bit of work, but I am happy enough with where I got to.
Like everybody, I pondered my peace alphabet for quite awhile, and in the end decided to set myself the challenge of finding peace mentioned in the newspapers we read each week; and then doing my letter over the top in a hand I am not familiar with - Neuland style. Some weeks, I couldn't find a mention of peace; some times I hit the jackpot and there were three or four mentions.
I enjoyed writing on the newsprint - it is an easy every-day material, and graphite/pencil seemed like an ordinary material to use as well. Hoping in a way that peace could be an everyday kind of thing I guess.
When it came to putting them all together, I thought of a corkboard - like pinning up things I had cut out from the newspaper on a board.
The analytical side of me had been recording where I found the word peace and in what context; so I made up an extra top 10 mentions squares as well - and included them in the final piece.
I am playing with the idea of it being more random - but for now the structure and the grid hold me.
My lettering needs a fair bit of work, but I am happy enough with where I got to.
I love the unpretentious originality of your board!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ersi! I like the unpretentious nature of it as well.
DeleteI really like the simplicity of this one and the idea of finding 'peace' in actual print is genius. I've just completed mine as well though realized I forgot to post it to ALAW....will do it this weekend. Now I'm on to the peace alpha - toying with some ideas. Thanks so much for continuing to host/sponsor/encourage this - I just love the activity, the sharing, the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terrie. I really struggled some days to find the word in print, and was intrigued by the different settings in which I found it. Good luck with your peace alphabet - there have been some fascinating interpretations so far. And thanks too for your support for ALAW; I'm glad you joined!
DeleteUnique and very much down to earth. Clever you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo - it was simple yet had a bit of a challenge in it still.
DeleteThere's something transitory about the letters on the board Fiona as if they are not permanent, just like peace is sadly not permanent and the newsprint - something that will ultimately fall apart, just like the Arab Spring in Egypt - just re-inforces that feeling for me.
ReplyDeleteIt does feel all a bit tentative and temporary doesn't it Lesley? As you say - probably quite an accurate association to make with peace around the globe at the moment...
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