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Penmanship plus

A display of fine calligraphy and carefully crafted bindings draws works from artists all over the nation.

DUNEDIN - With a lighthearted nudge from a friend, Barbara Melby-Burhans walked over to a display table, reached her hand into a brown sack and pulled out a soft white card.

On it was what appeared to be a raised "X."

In keeping with the instructions, she matched the mysterious symbol with a short description in a handmade book nearby and discovered it meant "partnership and friend."

"That's perfect!" said Melby-Burhans, explaining that she is a partner and a friend to Linda Renc, who was standing nearby.

They and their husbands are co-owners of the Painted Fish Gallery.

Like tarot cards and fortune cookies, Druid rune cards are said to offer personal insights and perhaps a glimpse into an individual's future. The exhibit is part of a show called "My Back Pages" at the Dunedin gallery.

The works on display include handmade books, hand-woven painted silk panels, watercolor and 22-carat gold leaf on vellum, creations by 18 artists from across the United States.

According to the World Book Encyclopedia, calligraphy, simply put, is the art of beautiful writing.

In ancient times, scribes wrote with quills and reeds on animal skins, preserving sacred texts for future generations.

Later, they created illuminated manuscripts on paper using glowing colors.

With the invention of movable type, the craft continued as an art form .

Professional calligraphers today usually write for greeting card companies or create book jackets.

Others do it as a hobby because they love the art form.

"Letters are symbols which turn matter into spirit," a quote by Alphonse de la Martine, is a favorite among calligraphers, Renc said.

Visitors to the gallery will see Notes From Free Play, a calligraphic book done in gouache, ink-wash and watercolor with a leather binding by Annie B. Cicale of North Carolina.

They will also get to view Liberty, an original work on thin calf skin vellum with Sumi ink, colored pencil, gouache, shell gold by Nancy Culmone of Serafina, N.M..

Prices for the works range from $100 to $2,000.

"It's a life-long discipline," said Renc, who has been doing calligraphy for 25 years. "It's relaxing and you can get a sense of satisfaction (when you are finished) because a great deal of your personality is in it."

Part of the fun is making one's own book covers and bindings, which is an art form in itself. Some covers are made of leather, some of wood.

Some artists use a sewing machine to create the bindings.

"I want people to see the relationship between the art of calligraphy and book binding," Renc said.

Eileen Schulte can be reached at 727 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com

WHAT: A calligraphy show called "My Back Pages."

WHERE: The Painted Fish Gallery at 350 Main St., downtown Dunedin.

WHEN: Through Sept. 30.

HOURS: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

CALL: (727) 734-5060.