Seven Years After Bopomofo Was Left Behind • Joyce Chen
By Joyce Chen
One of the most common shared experiences of second generation Chinese American kids everywhere is spending three hours every Saturday morning at Chinese school — often held at empty high schools, in community centers, or in rented spaces above storefronts — from the age of 5 to about 18. And one of the very first things said kids were taught is how to write the Chinese alphabet, otherwise known as Zhuyin fuhao (注音符號).
Or, in plainer terms, bopomofo. The form is phonetic, so it's possible to read an entire page of the characters without knowing what exactly you're saying. But, as times have changed, so has language, and the language system is no longer widely taught, if at all. Now, in place of thing phonetic characters, kids are learning the pinyin system — phonetics written in English letters.
What used to be 手寫 and pronounced ㄕㄡ(3) ㄒㄧㄝ (2) is now Shǒuxiě.
2 Composers Separated by 68 Years and 2 Drawings • Graydon Hanson
When 12-year old aspiring composer, Graydon, was tasked with following in the footsteps of a composer, he chose Estonian composer Arvo Part, who happened to draw significantly by hand. Above and below are two images from Graydon's presentation, illustrating his journey through the past and toward the future.
The Script Inside a Manuscript • Tomas Cohen
With best wishes from a Chilean poet in Berlin,
Tomas | www.tomascohen.com
Backwards Cursive, or should we write, Evisruc Sdrawkcab?
CURATED BY CARLY BUTLER
Yep, this person is more talented than the entire planet.
Love in Vietnamese, Punjabi, Mandarin, English, Spanish & Backwards Cursive
HANDCOLLECTED BY CARLY BUTLER
At work today, Handwritten curator Carly Butler shares International Handwriting Day with colleagues and customers. So far, they have collected handwriting in Vietnamese, Punjabi, Mandarin, English, Spanish, and to top it off, backwards cursive. That's right, backwards cursive. #bicdrop
Lenore Tawney postcard to Maryette Charlton (1969) • Smithsonian Archives of American Art
FROM THE SMITHSONIAN ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART
Lenore Tawney postcard to Maryette Charlton, February 16, 1969. Maryette Charlton papers. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. This letter will be featured in Smithsonian's forthcoming book, Pen to Paper: Artists’ Handwritten Letters from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art (Princeton Architectural Press, 2016).
Thank you to Mary Savig, Curator of Manuscripts, for opening up the Smithsonian Archives of American Art for a Handwritten celebration.
Maxfield Parrish letter to Cecilia Beaux, July 11, 1909 • Smithsonian Archives of American Art
FROM THE SMITHSONIAN ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART
Maxfield Parrish letter to Cecilia Beaux, July 11, 1909. Cecilia Beaux papers. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. This letter will be featured in Smithsonian's forthcoming book, Pen to Paper: Artists’ Handwritten Letters from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art (Princeton Architectural Press, 2016).
Thank you to Mary Savig, Curator of Manuscripts, for opening up the Smithsonian Archives of American Art for a Handwritten celebration.
Eero Saarinen letter to Aline Saarinen, 1953 • Smithsonian Archives of American Art
FROM THE SMITHSONIAN ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART
Eero Saarinen letter to Aline Saarinen, 1953. Aline and Eero Saarinen papers. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. This letter will be featured in Smithsonian's forthcoming book, Pen to Paper: Artists’ Handwritten Letters from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art (Princeton Architectural Press, 2016).
Thank you to Mary Savig, Curator of Manuscripts, for opening up the Smithsonian Archives of American Art for a Handwritten celebration.
Winslow Homer letter to Thomas B. Clarke, January 4, 1901 • Smithsonian Archives of American Art
FROM THE SMITHSONIAN ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART
Winslow Homer letter to Thomas B. (Thomas Benedict) Clarke, January 4, 1901. Winslow Homer collection. This letter will be featured in Smithsonian's forthcoming book, Pen to Paper: Artists’ Handwritten Letters from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art (Princeton Architectural Press, 2016).
Thank you to Mary Savig, Curator of Manuscripts, for opening up the Smithsonian Archives of American Art for a Handwritten celebration.
Take The First Steps Into The Dark Dawn • Royster
BY ROYSTER
In 2009, I couldn't read my own longhand notes. I read a bit about handwriting, then adopted an italic script from Write Now! by Getty & Dubay. Much more legible, and if I put my mind and hand to it a little more than I do here, I get compliments! Best of all, I got a letter from Mrs. Getty where she includes some calligraphic scribbles.
“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” Alan Cohen
I Love You in Armenian • Seda Stepanyan
HANDWRITTEN BY SEDA STEPANYAN
Written in Armenian
Pronounce: Es (I) kez (you) sirum em (love) Alberto
Translation: I love you, Arberto
