The Scone ADFAS is please to present this lecture by Gemma Black.
Tuesday June 13th 2023, 6.30pm
Scone Arts & Crafts Hall, Kingdon St, Scone
Members free, Guest $30
Refreshments will be served after lecture.
More details: Visit website
Gemma Black is a calligrapher, an artist and teacher. Her love for and knowledge of letters as ancient symbols has seen her teach throughout Australia, Europe, UK & USA. Her work is housed in private and public collections including the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK, the European Parliament, Letterform Archive San Francisco and Parliament House Canberra. In 1991 Gemma received a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship to study overseas. She is an Honoured Fellow and Fellow of the Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society, UK. Her love of calligraphic history, evolution of the western alphabet from the Roman period through to the 21st century keeps her research interests switched on. Gemma shares her passion with enthusiasm, gusto as well as gentleness from her heart!
The Book of Kells: its history, its mystery and its wonder
Ireland’s National treasure the Book of Kells – is full of mystery, symbolism, history, Christological imagery and unprecedented artwork, the Book of Kells is said to be “the work of angels …” Gemma Black presents a highly polished and entertaining look at Ireland’s national treasure the Book of Kells. Gemma was invited by the National Gallery of Australia to prepare and present this lecture on the calligraphy and illumination, pigments and tools therein and the background to the Book of Kells upon its highly acclaimed visit to Australia in the year 2000. Gemma worked in conjunction with Susie Bioletti (head of conservation NGA now Trinity College), on the tools and pigments component of the Book of Kells and the Art of Illumination blockbuster exhibition held at the National Gallery where over 81,000 visitors experienced this exciting event. Since then Gemma has presented this lecture, among others, to audiences throughout Australia and around the world.
This one hour illustrated lecture with images taken from her original lecture, informs, educates and stimulates. It is an excellent opportunity for those interested in books, book history and calligraphy to delve further into the past and learn some of the history and the mystery of this astonishing manuscript.