Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Rebel Without a Pause

Is Helvetica the most well known typeface in the world? (f**k Arial, you bastard knock-off!) It is used everywhere- lots and lots of signage use this crisp, readable, solid typeface. I recently had a flashback when the architect Robert T. Coles (a friend and Jill's old boss) gave me a box of souvenirs-- he is cleaning his office. Among the prizes contained in the box was a set of old Chartpack Velvet-Touch rub-on lettering and architecture icons & symbols. The first folder I looked into contained a sheet of ubiquitous Helvetica Bold- 180 pt.

And now Helvetica, which is celebrating its 50th birthday, is starring in a feature film simply titled Helvetica. This film is a documentary by Gary Hustwit.

The film is going to be shown in Buffalo, next week at the Market Arcade. This event is sponsored by The WNY Book Arts Collaborative and others.

May 9 - Wednesday 7 pm
Helvetica: A Documentary Film
Film showing w/ Director Q&A
Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre (639 Main St.)

Reception following at Hallwalls (341 Delaware Ave. at Tupper)

Gen. Admission - $8, Students - $5.
Members of: Hallwalls, WNYBAC, AIGA, Advertising Club of Buffalo - $4.

For more info on the film, check the site here.

1 comment:

jill said...

Mr. Coles is my former boss (not my old boss) and although he may not believe that I have made the right choices, he has had influence in the direction my career has taken. He is down sizing his office ( a business has to ebb and flow with the tide) and offered me an old Kroytype 80 lettering machine machine. I know next to nothing about what it is but it looks like a slide projector it is appearantly a giant label maker.
dynolabel fun!