New story: "San Francisco's 'Last Black Calligrapher' Invites You to Go Deeper"
Hunter Saxony III imbues his work with layers of meaning, while also intentionally leaving it open to interpretation. In the process, he's taking an age-old art form in a very new direction.
Dear Friends,
Traditionally, calligraphy has been employed for hyper-classical religious or academic purposes, beginning with the ancient civilizations of China, Arabia, Greece, Rome, and beyond. As a self-taught, hobbyist calligrapher myself, I love the myriad forms this craft has taken, but I always find it fascinating to see how some of today’s lettering artists reinterpret this age-old craft.
This week in our Field Notes section, we bring you a profile of one such modern calligrapher whose work not only challenges the mostly literary traditions of calligraphy, but also provokes questions about who has access to art, learning, and literacy. I hope you’ll enjoy reading this story — “San Francisco’s ‘Last Black Calligrapher’ Invites You to Go Deeper” — written by Melinda Misuraca.
We have just a few weeks left in our Winter issue, which highlights some masters of stonework. Along with stories that speak to each issue’s theme, we always have works on other topics, so please, stay tuned. Each Friday, we release a feature story, short article, mini-documentary, photo essay, or podcast that relates to our mission — to “create a world built to last.”
In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read, watch, or listen to within our pages. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause when you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Be well,
Todd Oppenheimer
Editor & Publisher, Craftsmanship Quarterly
Winter 2023: The New Stone Age
When humans first embarked on their incessant quest for innovations, they began tinkering with little more than the rocks and stones at their feet. The Stone Age endured for more than 2 million years, and the stonework remains of ancient civilizations — from the Megalithic Temples of Malta to Stonehenge to the Great Pyramids — continue to awe and fascinate us today. Throughout the world, stone is still quarried for use in grand monuments, memorials, and much more. In this issue, along with other topics, we highlight some modern-day devotees of this timeless, prehistoric material.