Barbara Calzolari, Master Penman
Barbara Calzolari, photo credit: barbaracalzolari.com
City of Women Denizen: Barbara Calzolari
Bona Fides: The first woman in Europe to earn the designation of Master Penman from IAMPETH, the International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting; manuscript illuminator, teacher.
City of Women Induction: Barbara Calzolari is an extraordinary woman whose passion for art is evident in her work and in all aspects of her life. As a teacher, she imparts much more than her knowledge of forms, strokes and technique. She exudes a profound reverence for calligraphy, and is the embodiment of a master who has succeeded through passion and discipline. She inspires me to practice my lettering every day with her motto, “Impara Encora!” Never Stop Learning!
I connected with Barbara while Italy first went on lockdown during the Coronavirus pandemic; here’s the result of our digital conversation.
RPO: You were a designer in the fashion/apparel business for 15 years prior to committing yourself full-time to calligraphy. How did you find the courage to make this career change? Please describe your inner dialogue during that time of transition.
BC: It took 8 years to realize that I wanted to leave fashion. The money was good, the work was interesting and I was very good at it. But fashion turned into what calligraphy is now: a trendy hobby. Professionals and people who were simply passionate about fashion were considered the same; that was the end for me.
RPO: Your art has inspired me and so many people in more ways than i can tell you. What inspires you?
BC: The things that inspire me are music (particularly electronic music), art, fashion designers, cities, flowers, places, hotels, poetry, poetry, and poetry.
RPO: Why does calligraphy matter?
BC: Calligraphy matters the same way all other arts matter, even if Vasari does not include calligraphy among major art forms. We must learn and continue the long thread of beauty and mystery that keeps our heart beating faster when we are in front of something that deserves our attention. Humans have used art since the consciousness of the soul. But only deep relation with ourselves and our attitude to improve the use of original shapes and original media is important for me. We’ve looked at and learned from Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rafaello, Brunelleschi, Canova and more. We {calligraphers} cannot make poor contributions to the world of art.
RPO: This is an extraordinarily tragic time for humanity and people are cut short of physical human connection. Art inspires and has healing potential; I’ve been inspired by looking at your work. How do you envision the world healing from this crisis?
BC: I live every day as we have been doing with Coronavirus, because I go out very few times...only for workshops, sometimes for dinner and to walk. Here are some things we need to do:
— Limit animal protein to once a week and when we do eat it, choose meat from organic farms where animals can graze cage-free. Seeds, cereals and vegetarian protein are better options.
— Stop buying stupid, knock-off clothing from the fast fashion industry.
— Stop unnecessary airline travel.
— Stop using clothing dryers every day.
— Stop thinking that all the world’s disasters are someone else’s fault.
The world does not care about our selfish desires to have everything, and we need a world with fewer dramatic events than what we have witnessed in the last several years.
We need to start now to be better; it does not matter in what direction we choose to begin.
Start today to write deep, real words. Start to be an example for our friends and students.
RE-START.
It’s a beautiful word... there is a STAR within it.
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Barbara Calzolari’s portfolio can be marveled at on her website, www.barbaracalzolari.com; I encourage you to view her artwork, which is breathtaking.
Read her full bio here: www.barbaracalzolari.com/bio.
You can also see her work on Instagram @BarbaraCalzolari.