Calligraphies In Conversation

An Exhibition of Multicultural Calligraphy encompasses an annual group exhibition and a series of public programs with the intention to bring diverse communities of the Bay Area together to share their culture and stories through the art of writing and calligraphy. This innovative exhibition, curated by Arash Shirinbab and local artists, focuses on initiating a meaningful conversation between different cultures, languages, and scripts existed in local communities and beyond.

We commonly hear about examples--in the present and throughout history--of people creating physical, social, political, and religious boundaries intended to separate and divide; however, it is vitally important to create and raise awareness of the many instances of people crossing these boundaries to engage with each other and celebrate a shared humanity. Calligraphies in Conversation encompasses an annual group exhibition and a series of public venues with the intention to bring diverse communities of the Bay Area together to share their culture and stories through the art of writing and calligraphy. Curated by Arash Shirinbab and local artists since 2014, this exhibition focuses on initiating a meaningful conversation between different cultures, languages, and scripts existed in local communities and beyond.

In a multicultural region such as the Bay Area, there are ever more and more communities who wish to explore the way another culture thinks, speaks, prays, reads, and writes. If we think an intercultural conversation would be something worthwhile, quite often we must create special circumstances in which two or more members of the human family, who have hitherto remained largely ignorant about the other or others, cross these boundaries and suddenly find themselves placed in the same room, with a mediating voice encouraging them to speak. This is what Calligraphies in Conversation intends to do: Having different calligraphic artworks, languages, and scripts in one exhibition provides an opportunity for a broad conversation and the viewers will have a clear view of differences and similarities of those arts. Such viewing combinations are unique and will bring the public’s consideration to shared features: different calligraphic cultures highlight the power of the written word via inscribing it artistically.

Mon - Sun 10am -  5:30pm

Artists in Discussion
Fri, July 12th 6pm - 8pm (Discussion begins at 6:30 pm)
Join curator Arash Shirinbab and Calligraphies in Conversation artists for an evening of stories and inspiration. Local calligraphers will be on hand to discuss their work in detail; attendees will experience the exuberance and rich history represented by various calligraphic traditions.

San Francisco Center for the Book
375 Rhode Island Street

San Francisco, CA