WCG at 50 • Gemma Black: From the Antipodes, with Versals: Reflections on a Calligraphic Journey

What does it mean to practice calligraphy from what is often described as the far side of the world? The antipodes is more than a geographical designation; it is also a way of understanding our place within an international community of lettering artists. It speaks of both distance and connection, of shared traditions, texts, and teachers, balanced against the realities of geography, time zones, and relative isolation. From this perspective, practice becomes self-sustaining, nurtured by curiosity, discipline, and a lifelong commitment to the craft.

In this presentation, Gemma reflects on her calligraphic journey as an Antipodean and on her enduring fascination with versal letterforms in all their forms, periods, and personalities. Drawing on examples from her own practice, she explores how these elegant but often daunting letterforms are constructed and why they need not be feared. By rethinking versals not as an unattainable script but as carefully drawn forms created with pen…