The ADLaM Story – How Alphabet Changes Culture - Part One

The first installment of ADLaM's three part series.

This installment is a development of a brief history of Alphabetic writing, why it is important to the ADLaM story, and how modern calligraphy played a part in leading up to the initial meeting with Ibrahim Barry, one of the creators of the ADLaM alphabet.  

Setting the stage: Lettering Arts and Calligraphy today

 Lisa Engelbrecht - Masthead for The Society for Calligraphy, Los Angeles CA 

Within the wider world of art and craft, the subset of the Calligraphic Arts has organizations represented in many parts of the world. At the local level, calligraphy societies and guilds hold meetings, host workshops and create an atmosphere where the art and craft of lettering can be taught. Through society newsletters and international publications like Letter Arts Review, articles on the traditions of Alphabet and artwork with innovation in letterforms provide a stimulus to artists all over the world. These societies provide the root system to foster the growth of the Calligraphic Arts and individuals within those groups use letterform as artistic expression.

Randall M. Hasson -
Lettering Demo with Brush on Canvas Board

On an annual basis, Lettering Artists from around the world with a variety of skill levels come together to participate in an International Lettering Arts Conference. Traditionally held at a College or University in the summer, these conferences provide a venue that allows for an even more participatory “conversation” around the use, adaptation and innovation in the area of Lettering Arts and letter development. Some of the finest lettering artists around the world come to teach these workshops and provide lectures. Classes range from learning to write traditional styles of alphabet to the abstraction of writing and the incorporation of text into a wider application of artwork including traditional letter formation, layout and design, painting, journaling, bookmaking, gilding and type design. Some of the best of these classes can be transformative for participants, and the evening lectures add to the insight and excitement of what is happening in the greater world of Letters.

It was at the 2013 International Lettering Arts Conference in Colorado Springs that I was privileged to be asked to give a talk about two brothers from western Africa who began using an alphabet to change a culture. This is the story of how that came about.

The Inaugural Santa Fe retreat

Our inaugural Santa Fe retreat commenced on October 25, 2009, with the paricipants arriving to a light snow at the beautiful Don Gaspar Inn.

Monday the 26th was the start of our week long session. Six work spaces for six students studying four different subjects were set up at the Studio/Gallery.

Canvas techniques, the Foundational hand, 15th cent. Bastarda, and layout and composition were the starting points for our week. Above, Yolande Adriaanse studies the Bastarda hand, and below Cecelia Watts Harris experiments with textures on canvas.

These rows of letters were quickly transitioned into alphabetic sentences to help talk about rhythm and spacing.

The demos ranges from specific letterforms, to canvas techniques, to a discussion on lettering in circles and spirals, as well as techniques to letter in perspective in space...

and of course, for the inagural group, we had to have a real Barbeque night for the participants and their spouses.

Fare above is Smoked Baby Back Ribs with spicy rub and homemade cherry chipotle bbq sauce, Smoked Turkey, Cilantro Lime Pinto beans, Cauliflower/Broccoli Grauten, rolls, and a couple of tangy sauces.


Thank you to all participants, it was a rewarding and pleasantly exhausting week!