American Calligraphy 1: Subway Mosaics

ABCs of the USA: The stories behind America's most distinctive calligraphy styles. 

This sketch is based on two  
New York City subway panels.  

This year, I'm not making New Year's Resolutions; instead, I've got a short list of things I'd like to get back to once the virus of 2020 has truly gone away. Many of us miss the same things: a meal with friends, hugs, seeing people's faces, not feeling so threatened. But I also miss riding on subways and looking at the visual art that dresses up so many stations. Boston of course has its charms, but nothing quite equals the mosaics in the subway stops of New York City.  

Many stations in the New York subway system have vintage virtuoso mosaic station panels, designed and installed by the firm of Heins and LaFarge 1904-1907.  Today, an ongoing city program curates this world-class legacy while it sponsors new station signs of similar high artistic quality. 

America is a treasure box of beautiful calligraphy. Come back next week to see more, all through 2021.