Text Heavy: The Art of Type Design by Nick Shinn

Nick Shinn · November 11

Opening: Friday November 14 at 7:00 pm
Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts
50 Sussex Drive, Ottawa

November 17—28, 10 am to 4 pm
(Closed Sundays)

This is an exhibition of my work, at an art gallery in Ottawa, under the auspices of the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts, of which I’m a member.

It’s something of a retrospective, showing typefaces I’ve designed over the years, but most of the typography is new—12 large posters commissioned for the show, from 12 designers from around the world, and new specimens I’ve created for the show—large hanging banners—and recent vertical videos for social media. Books, magazines and newspapers (The Globe and Mail, of course) provide “fonts in use,” and there are even some costumes with font fabric.

Poster design by Henk van Assen, using the Figgins Sans typeface.

John Hudson · November 12

Congratulations, Nick.

James Montalbano · November 12

I concur with John, Congratulations!

Kent Lew · November 12

Well done, Nick. Ottawa is a bit too far for me to drive. Will there be anything online about the exhibit at the RCA/ARC website?

Nick Shinn · November 12

The RCA/ARC website, and my own, are somewhat lacking in promoting or discussing the show. We have done some promotion (e.g. a video on social media), but it has been work enough to put the show together. A catalogue is planned, and I will put documentation online as well—afterwards.