Nashville Calligraphers Guild

History of the Guild

The Nashville Calligraphers Guild was formed in 1981 to promote the continued study, practice, and use of calligraphy among its members, and to encourage community awareness of the art of calligraphy.

The Guild began at the encouragement of instructor Sara Schuyler with eight members. These eight ladies met monthly on Saturdays for lunch around Betty Gilpin's kitchen table. There they shared calligraphy projects and became close friends.

Mrs. Schuyler felt that "arrangement of words on the page is as important as beautiful lettering in good calligraphy."

Mrs. Gilpin was elected as the first president of the Guild. Other officers were Nancy Rice, secretary, and Donna Robert, treasurer. Other founding members included Sandy White, Mary Lee Bowen, Patsy Burger, Betty Sanford, and Deloris Rayner. This group called themselves the Crazy Eights.

Mrs. Gilpin appreciates "the beauty of calligraphy. It can be like a painting rather than something you see on a greeting card or a certificate."

Soon after the Guild was made official, they began inviting other Nashvillians interested in calligraphy to join the group, and they began scheduling calligraphy teachers to present workshops in Nashville. Shelia Waters was one of the first to grace Nashville's workshop teaching roster.

The Guild has grown through the years and now meets at Plaza Artists Materials in Nashville. The Guild sponsors workshops and classes open to those interested in calligraphic arts.

The Nashville Calligraphers Guild celebrated its 25^th anniversary in September 2006 with an exhibit entitled "25 Years, 26 Letters" at the Centennial Art Center. Guild members reminisced as they enjoyed viewing the exhibit. Past presidents Vannah Husband and Carolyn Lovelace were presented certificates of appreciation. Nancy Rice and Lilo Regen were recognized for their contributions to the Guild with Life Memberships. Betty Gilpin was recognized as the first president and founding member.

Renowned British calligrapher Peter Thornton presented his musical slide show "Letters and How We Use Them." The anniversary celebration concluded with Sherri Kiesel Thornton's presentation of her Pencil Letterforms workshop at the end of September.

What began with such humble beginnings is now a vibrant and strong group of approximately 80 calligraphic artists from Nashville and the surrounding area. Mrs. Gilpin states that it is a blessing to see how the organization has continued and blossomed from the original eight members to where it is today.