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Symbols of Communication
An alumna of the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia (US) and the Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida, Sam Tudyk now paints from New England. She considers “symbols of communication” (typography, sigils, maps, billboards, handwriting) – an indispensable component of human life – her inspiration. Currently her ideas branch into two bodies of work: Land-Marks and Paper-Marks.
When executing Land-Marks, she loves exploring deteriorating structures of billboards and old drive-in theaters, making the viewer wonder what messages their flat planes, often covered with leaves now due to obsolescence, held in the past. She carefully exposes their geometric structures and compositions. The grids, the wiring they contain. Rusting, breaking. By looking at her Land-Marks, she says she hopes the viewer “to take away a captured moment of time, like a snapshot out a window that you have the chance to study longer.”
When constructing Paper-Marks, Sam enjoys investing concrete handwritten material with an abstract aura. “Through documentation,” she says, “ideas and feelings are given permanence, untouchable by the passage of time and memory’s malleable nature. The layer of abstraction offers privacy, though the obscured language can be decoded in some instances if time is spent studying the work. More importantly, and regardless of any perceived message, these symbols represent a basic need to communicate, document and remember.” By examining these fragments of memories, she hopes the viewer takes away “a sense of mystery and nostalgia.”
While no particular artist has inspired her Land-Marks, her Paper-Marks have been influenced by a volume called The Palmer Method of Business Writing (c. 1894). The Palmer Method of penmanship was a technique of writing developed by a man called Austin Norman Palmer (December 22, 1860 – November 16, 1927). Sam also admires the “the physicality and scale” found in the art of Donald Judd, an American sculptor known for his minimalism.
The Palmer Method of Business Writing by Austin Palmer. Courtesy: Sam Tudyk
A page from The Palmer Method of Business Writing by Austin Palmer. Courtesy: Sam Tudyk
Sam’s website is www.tudyk.com. You can also check out her page on Saatchi Art (www.saatchiart.com/s.tudyk). Scroll down to view her works that remind us that we are essentially social beings who cannot exist without giving expression to our thoughts. We may succeed and we may fail. Some words of ours may not reach the world due to our indecisiveness and incoherence. Sometimes, they may resonate far and loud but only for a season or an era and then fade away leaving behind decaying relics and remnants.
PAPER-MARKS
I’m Left with Only Love for You by Sam Tudyk. Used with permission.
I Started Out in Search of Ordinary Things by Sam Tudyk. Used with permission.
Eid Ma Clack Shaw by Sam Tudyk. Used with permission. “Eid Ma Clack Shaw” is the name of a song by Bill Callahan. The phrase signifies the nonsense the singer encounters in a dream-song.
Stars and Stripes by Sam Tudyk. Used with permission.
Untitled Work in Paper by Sam Tudyk. Used with permission.
LAND-MARKS
Remember Me This Way by Sam Tudyk. Used with permission.
V from Message Series 1 by Sam Tudyk. Used with permission.
Jenny by Sam Tudyk. Used with permission.
Drive-In Storytime by Sam Tudyk. Used with permission.
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8 thoughts on “Symbols of Communication”
A fascinating post ! I taught handwriting to 5 to 9 year olds for years as a teacher, it is interesting to see this archival material.
Totally! I studied in a fairly strict convent where we had proper “Handwriting” classes in primary school in the midst of English and Maths and Science. I think kids nowadays are really missing out…
Indeed one’s hand writing reveals a lot. Thanks also for inspiring me to read the story of Savitri and Satyavan. Your job is gigantic, fantastic and admirable. Your stamina is incredible.
Thank you, Uncle! I took to Twitter recently and my international network has grown significantly over the past month. There is a lot of talent out there waiting to be discovered. From now on, I will be giving as much space to contemporary, emerging artists (whatever their medium) as I do to historically relevant art and established practitioners.
I struggled with my penmanship for years, until I taught myself a cheat version of copperplate. At least it now looks elegant to the average person, but I know what really good hanwdriting should look like. A fascinating post. Thank you
On Art and Aesthetics 
A fascinating post ! I taught handwriting to 5 to 9 year olds for years as a teacher, it is interesting to see this archival material.
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Totally! I studied in a fairly strict convent where we had proper “Handwriting” classes in primary school in the midst of English and Maths and Science. I think kids nowadays are really missing out…
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I do too. There is so much stuff to get crammed into school lessons these days.
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Indeed one’s hand writing reveals a lot. Thanks also for inspiring me to read the story of Savitri and Satyavan. Your job is gigantic, fantastic and admirable. Your stamina is incredible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Uncle! I took to Twitter recently and my international network has grown significantly over the past month. There is a lot of talent out there waiting to be discovered. From now on, I will be giving as much space to contemporary, emerging artists (whatever their medium) as I do to historically relevant art and established practitioners.
LikeLike
I struggled with my penmanship for years, until I taught myself a cheat version of copperplate. At least it now looks elegant to the average person, but I know what really good hanwdriting should look like. A fascinating post. Thank you
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I haven’t picked up a fountain pen in ages! These paintings make me want to!
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Thank you for sharing the work and I’ll be watching your work.
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