Introduction to Calligraphy

About Catich, The Art Legacy League& Catifish Letter Arts SchoolEdward Michael Catich was born in Stevensville Montana on January 4, 1906. He was orphaned at age 12 and, with his three brothers, was moved to the Mooseheart orphanage near Aurora, Illinois. Following a sign-writing apprenticeship with Walter Heberling and graduating from Mooseheart in 1924, he worked as a union sign-writer and musician in Chicago and vicinity. He also attended the Art Insitute of Chicago for two and one half years.Ned Catich enrolled at St. Ambrose College (Davenport, IA) in 1931 and graduated in 1934. He earned his M.A. in Art from the University of Iowa in 1935 and was awarded a four year scholarship to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy by the Diocese of Davenport that same year. He conducted intensive paleographic and epigraphic research while studying for the priesthood from 1935 until his ordination in December of 1938. His special fields of inquiry: Paleography and Archeology.Reverend Catich returned to St. Ambrose College in 1939. He taught art, math, engineering, and music while establishing and expanding the Art Department as a permanent entity. Catich also published several books with his own Catfish Press which he operated from his studio. Through his research, he saw and formulated the kinesthetic linkage between the inscription letter making of Imperial Rome and his own familiar Chicago sign-writing.Father Catich was president of the Catholic Art Association, staff consultant for Encyclopaedia Britannica – he designed EB’s corporate identity symbol and bicentennial medal – and was consultant for several nationally known architectural firms. His stone inscriptions have been exhibited in institutions throughout the country and are the permanent decor at Encyclopaedia Britannica’s corporate headquarters, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Reed College, the Morton Arboretum, Harvard University, and the George M. Bevier Library of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Engineering. Among his many awards and achievements, perhaps the best known was the Frederic W. Goudy Award which he received in 1976. Father Edward M. Catich died on April 14, 1979.Reverend Edward Michael Catich remains the leading authority of the Imperial Roman letter as found at the Trajan Column in Rome, Italy. The Trajan Inscription has been generally regarded by paleographers, calligraphers and others interested in the letter arts as the finest example of the best period of Roman monumental lettering. It is accepted as the basic model of the Roman alphabet. Until Father Catich, the majority of the studies made of this inscription were not based on the original stone, but on reproductions of it which were in many ways misleading.E. M. Catich began his intensive paleographic and epigraphic research throughout Europe and the Middle East in 1935 as he studied for the priesthood in Rome. After his ordination in December of 1938, he returned innumerable times over the course of his life to gather facts which he published in two major works;Letters Redrawn from the Trajan Inscription(1961) andOrigin of the Serif(1968). Both books were published by his own Catfish Press at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa where he was chairman of the Art Department. Father Catich did more than just write about the letters on the Trajan Inscription, he made an actual full-sized cast* directly from the monument itself. A feat that will, most likely, never be repeated.Father Catich is well known as an author, stonecutter, calligrapher, photographer, musician, liturgical artist, historian and lecturer. He taught at St. Ambrose College (now University) for over forty years, to include the years he attended as an undergraduate student when he taught music. He taught Art at the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery an equal number of years and offered calligraphy workshops all across the country during his lifetime.*located at the RR Donnelley Corporate offices in Chicago, IllinoisFather Catich’s private press was located on St. Ambrose campus but it was not funded by the university. Therefore, he could not call it the St. Ambrose College Press. His initial reasoning behind the press was the advancement of the Pictorial Apostolate and so the name should reflect its religious roots. The logotype incorporates the initial letters CP (Catfish Press) which are also designed to read as the Greek letterphiand the Chi-Rho ligature (XP) combined with the catfish and read as “Jesus Christ our Light,” to signify the guiding beacon for the Catfish Press.TheArt Legacy Leaguehas been formed to ensure that Catich and his legacy are not forgotten. We have created a working division of our organization called The CATFISH Letter Arts School. Our mission is to offer workshops and classes teaching the Catich Method for Calligraphy and Letter Arts as well as other fine art studio disciplines. The Spring 2019 classes will be offered in our new home at the JB Young Opportunity Center, Davenport, Iowa.

The Art Legacy League-Catfish Letter Arts School

I.   COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introductory study of Root Alphabets of Western Calligraphy, utilizing shaded writing instruments such as steel and felt tipped pens for writing and lettering.
<H3> II.  COURSE OVERVIEW</H3>
The word calligraphy comes from two Greek words:  Kallos, meaning beautiful, and grapheme, which means to write.  Students will learn the fundamental strokes of different alphabets and will develop the skills to execute alphabets with the knowledge of letter cant, slant and stroke sequences. Students will develop these skills through in class lecture and participation.
 III. MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION
No formal textbook is required. A handout will be given to each student. Excerpts from sources, such as “Origin of the Serif,” “Reed Pen &amp; Brush Alphabets,” and “The Trajan Inscription in Rome” by Father E. M. Catich and other sources will be used.
Students will be provided calligraphic pens, paper, alphabet plates and instructional papers as per your materials fee.
 IV. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1.   Relate basic characteristics of the alphabet.
2.   Identify basic alphabets, formal, informal, semi-formal, writing, lettering.
3.   Execute formal Roman and Petrarch alphabets by writing with basic illumination.
This workshop is part of a new Calligraphy and Book Arts Workshop series being offered by <A HREF="http://www.artlegacyleague.org" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="The Art Legacy League" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Art Legacy League </A>in their new location at The JB Young Opportunity Center, Davenport, Iowa. The all day workshops will take place one Saturday a month through December in the new ALL classroom space, which is accessible. The course fee includes morning and afternoon tea break and snacks. Participants are asked to bring a sack lunch to be eaten in the workshop space.
Participants will learn the fundamental techniques in each of the areas offered and will complete at least one finished project per workshop. Instruction will be provided in group and one-on-one. Participants willtake home their completed work and course notes. Each workshop has a maximum of 12 students and pre-registration is required, so sign-up early.
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Amy says, "I  am a lifelong Artist from Davenport, Iowa, with a BA in Art from SAU. I love the Art of Calligraphy and studied with Fr. E.M. Catich. My artwork includes mixed media calligraphic pieces including 23K gold gilding with watercolor and pen and ink.  Artistic design services include: calligraphy, lettering, logo design, letterhead, business card design, brochure design and production, illustration, watercolor, interior design, art instruction, sculpture and varied commercial art marketing services.  Companies I have worked for include Hallmark Cards, Crown Advertising, Quad City Times, Lockwood Manufacturing &amp; ePower Synergies. Teaching calligraphy is a passion as I have instructed courses for SAU ACCEL, and continue to teach at The FIGGE, Clinton River Arts Center, Bettendorf, IA and Moline, IL Libraries, as well as other venues in the Quad City area. Inspiration for my art comes from nature. Many own my calligraphic work because they appreciate the artistic design and the message meaning something special to them in their lives. I am a founding Board of Directors member for <A HREF="http://www.artlegacyleague.org/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Art Legacy League</A> and a CORE FACULTY, The Catfish Letter Arts School. "
You can see more of her work on her website by clicking <A HREF="http://amysnielsencalligrapher.blogspot.ca/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="AMY NIELSEN" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">HERE</A>.
 
The non-refundable Registration Ticket price includes the $50 workshop fee + $20 materials fee + Eventbrite processing fee.
 If for any reason the workshop is cancelled, all fees will be refunded.
PLEASE SELECT the registration ticket for your preference, LEFT HAND or RIGHT HAND pen. 
Participants will take home their completed work, calligraphy pen and course notes..
The instructor reserves the right to cancel the workshop if enough registrations are not received.

JB Young Opportunity Center & Art Legacy League Offices

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