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Nervous Conditions, Laurel Grelle
Nervous Conditions, Laurel Grelle
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Work displayed here as a diptych
Artist's narrative: Letter 174 is addressed to Paul Laurence Dunbar sent from his dear family friend H.A. Tobey. Toward the end of his life, Dunbar struggled to cope with his tuberculosis and turned to alcohol to ease his pain. As his condition worsened, Tobey began to worry about him and wrote him this moving letter of optimism expressing his sympathy regarding Paul living with a painful and deadly disease. The mirroring is showing the side effects of the disease …
On Flow'ry Beds Of Ease, Jacob Owens
On Flow'ry Beds Of Ease, Jacob Owens
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Artist's narrative: In Letter 10, Paul Laurence Dunbar's heartfelt words to his friend J. N. Matthews unveil a profound narrative of gratitude and faith. As a Black man navigating adversity, Dunbar expressed his deep indebtedness to white colleagues who aided in his success. The gentle color palette—featuring dark blues, purples, and soft whites—exudes an antique ambiance, transporting viewers back to Dunbar's era. This color scheme evokes the essence of the time when Dunbar mastered his craft in the cozy confines of his mother's home, where …
Sincerely Yours, Emily Kintz
Sincerely Yours, Emily Kintz
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Work displayed here as a diptych
Artist's narrative: Letter 62 unfolds William D. Howells’ review of Majors and Minors and the impact it had on Paul Laurence Dunbar. This single review pushed Dunbar into the national spotlight, which made his career. Howells' review, however, was embedded with racist ideologies and misinterpretations of Dunbar’s messages. The use of blue watercolor in the foreground represents the depth Dunbar put into his work. The purple watercolor begins to flood into the imagery to express the power Howells had …
I Object, Caroline Creamer
I Object, Caroline Creamer
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Letter 166 Paul Laurence Dunbar wrote to Booker T. Washington in response to his rebuttals of the commissioned song Dunbar was asked to write for the Tuskegee Institute. The Tuskegee Institute was the first higher education institute opened for African Americans. Booker T. Washington was one of the founders who helped establish the school. During the time of this letter, Dunbar was struggling with his tuberculosis diagnosis, however he was still writing and producing new work. Within this letter Dunbar debates Washington’s views and objections …
Irrevocable Harm, Sebastián De León
Irrevocable Harm, Sebastián De León
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Artist's narrative: Can one experience extreme joy and fear simultaneously? In Letter 62, Dunbar writes to William D. Howells to express his gratitude for the praise he received in Harper’s Weekly. Howells was a prominent Ohioan publisher, editor, and writer during Dunbar’s time. His review of Dunbar’s Majors and Minors is attributed as a major step in Dunbar’s career, as it awarded the Daytonian poet with great recognition. However, though Howell’s article portrayed Dunbar as a great and talented artist, it also painted his race …
The Act, Erin Doherty
The Act, Erin Doherty
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Artist's narrative: Letter 121 explores the struggles Paul Laurence Dunbar faced with alcoholism and the scrutiny he received for his illness. As Dunbar writes an apology letter to Professor P.M. Pearson for his absence due to excessive drinking, his sincere apologies shine through. Dunbar explains how he is aware that his apology can’t erase showing up to a recital intoxicated, which led to his career being tarnished; however, he still asks for forgiveness. The imagery was created with an ink-water solution. This allowed for an …
Wish To Be, Try To Be, Madelyn Selong
Wish To Be, Try To Be, Madelyn Selong
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Artist's narrative:
Letter 21 details the events Paul Laurence Dunbar experienced following the Chicago World's Fair. Dunbar writes to Frederick Douglass, whom he had made friends with at the World's Fair after reading his poems there. The beginning of the letter tells the story of Dunbar’s gratitude toward Douglass as he promises to try to be worthy of the interest Douglass took in him. The end of the letter has a less positive tone, with Dunbar reflecting on some unfortunate events that occurred at the …
Uneventful, Mary Dent
Uneventful, Mary Dent
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 x 36 inches
Media: Inkjet on matte paper
Created using Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, ink, and handwritten calligraphy
Artist's statement: Letter 85 was written to a woman who is still unknown to this day. The opening sentence of the letter states, “In answer I must say that my life has been so uneventful that there is little in it to interest anyone.” Paul Laurence Dunbar wrote this letter explaining the “uneventful” occurrences that he had experienced, beginning at his birth in Dayton, Ohio. Dunbar continues on in the letter brushing through age 12, when he first began writing, …
Self-Deprivation, Maddison Mitchell
Self-Deprivation, Maddison Mitchell
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Artist's narrative: Paul Laurence Dunbar was a fascinating poet and writer. He was ahead of his time, and his writing was special and loved by all who read it. However, Dunbar was very hard on himself; he talked down about his abilities and writings. In Letter 3, he was writing to a close friend and mentor, James Newton Matthews. He talks about how he is not confident in his writing abilities and is doubting himself, saying he hasn’t been able to sell a single poem. …
Similar Flow, Quinn Heisey
Similar Flow, Quinn Heisey
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches deep, 2-sided
Medium: Inkjet on matte paper
Artist's narrative: Contemporary readers of letter 121 are hearing from the great Dayton poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar, in a declining state and nearing his 1906 passing from tuberculosis [diagnosed 1899]. Dunbar's illness necessitated treatment in a time before antibiotics, and the popular treatment was to use whiskey to manage extreme pain. This contributed to Dunbar’s addiction to alcohol, which is context for the sometimes unclear nature of events and decisions of his that warranted Dunbar to issue this response.
The letter has moments of self-disparaging humor or …
I Am Doing For The Best, Elaina Lear
I Am Doing For The Best, Elaina Lear
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Artist's narrative: Letter 66 expresses Paul Laurence Dunbar’s loving relationship with his mother, Matilda, and how his distance away from home worried her. Dunbar explained how his writing career was successful and that wealthy white people were treating him well; therefore, she did not need to worry. One side of the poster reflects the beginning of the letter; it's painted with ink wash representing the home where Matilda resided in Dayton, Ohio. The opposite side represents the Everett House in New York, where Paul was …
Love And Family, Kevin Brun
Love And Family, Kevin Brun
Life in Letters: A Typographic Poster Exhibition Featuring Paul Laurence Dunbar
Dimensions: 30 inches wide, 36 inches tall
Inkjet on matte paper, printed on both sides
Artist's statement: Letter 92 is Paul writing to his mother, Matilda, during his voyage from New York to England. Due to Dunbar’s dedication and love for his mother, he was writing to let her know that he had a rough trip but is doing well. Dunbar was on his way to London to sell his book Lyrics of Lowly Life after he got the approval and recommendation from William Dean Howells—who at the time was known as the “Dean of American Letters.” Near the end …
Nicolette Engelmeier: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Nicolette Engelmeier
Nicolette Engelmeier: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Nicolette Engelmeier
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Mixed-media digital collage
- 18 inches wide, 24 inches high
Calan Gizelbach: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Calan Gizelbach
Calan Gizelbach: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Calan Gizelbach
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- 18 x 24 inches, vertical
- Mixed-media digital collage
Mira Holifield: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Mira Holifield
Mira Holifield: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Mira Holifield
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Mixed-media digital college
- 18 inches wide, 24 inches high
Olivia Marklay: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Olivia Marklay
Olivia Marklay: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Olivia Marklay
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Mixed-media digital collage
- 18 inches wide, 24 inches tall
Colleen Glavic: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Colleen Glavic
Colleen Glavic: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Colleen Glavic
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Mixed-media digital collage
- 18 x 24 inches, vertical
Elliott Gilardi: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Elliott Gilardi
Elliott Gilardi: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Elliott Gilardi
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Mixed-media digital collage
- 18 inches wide x 24 inches tall
Cara Simmons: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Cara Simmons
Cara Simmons: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Cara Simmons
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Mixed-media digital collage
- 18 inches wide, 24 inches high
Devan Moses: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Devan Moses
Devan Moses: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Devan Moses
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Mixed-media digital collage
- 18 inches wide, 24 inches high
Cayley King: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Cayley King
Cayley King: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Cayley King
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Mixed-media digital collage
- 18 inches wide, 24 inches high
Mary Connor: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Mary Connor
Mary Connor: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Mary Connor
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
-
Mixed-media digital collage
-
18 inches wide, 24 inches high
Noah Gangloff: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Noah Gangloff
Noah Gangloff: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic Poster, Noah Gangloff
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Mixed-media digital collage
- 18 inches wide, 24 inches high
Tash Nelson: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic, Tash Nelson
Tash Nelson: 1918 & 2020 Pandemic, Tash Nelson
COVID-19 Graphic Design: Posters
- Illustration, Digital Collage
- 18 inches wide, 24 inches high