LETTERING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
In the wake of Donald Trump’s election, I felt a pressing need to do something to ensure that the social progress we’d made as a country would not be compromised by the incoming administration. Almost as if by magic, without my having shared these feelings with him, my cousin connected me with a friend of his who was organizing a benefit auction for The Impact Fund, a Berkley CA based not-for-profit that funds civil rights cases in the California courts. Clara Jung, the auction organizer, already had a number of big-ticket items donated to the cause, so I suggested a limited edition print, something for people who wanted to show their support but didn’t have a big budget. When I told Clara that I specialize in hand-lettering, she suggested a quote by Jane Addams, the creator of Hull House and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
I wanted the poster to feel contemporary so people would be excited to hang it in their home, while still referencing the promise of the Declaration of Independence that “all are created equal.” I hand lettered the quote with a flex-nibbed pen, then drew an illustration of a bald eagle holding an olive branch to frame the lettering. I also typeset Clara’s initial call for entries in the frame around the quote to remind people how easy it is to start a movement. James Tucker at the Aesthetic Union did the printing using a Heidelberg press on Crane’s Lettra Pearl White 220# paper. The quote is set in gold ink, while the illustration is a blind deboss. The two part process makes the print look simple and iconic from a distance; the lettering literally shines while the illustration remains a subtle counterpoint. Up close however, there’s a satisfying level of detail in the eagle and olive branch that rewards careful study.
The auction was held the night before the inauguration and was a great success, raising over $10,000. It was deeply rewarding to talk to the many people who came out, sharing the story of Jane Addams with them and asking about their reasons for supporting the Impact Fund. Take heart, the world is still filled with people who believe the American Dream should be accessible to all and they’re willing to put that belief into action.
