The Society of Typographic Aficionados annual conference, MKE SHIFT, gets underway this evening in Milwaukee. This year’s program is eclectic and rich as ever: from wood type and hand-painted signage; to Mayan writing reform, Marshall McLuhan, and the Monotype archives; to what’s newest on the wild web frontier. The hand-painted signage alone is making us dingbatty with delight — an exhibition and sale of grocery store banners painted by John Downer. Hot dog!
There’s also a sneak peek at The Sign Painter Movie, directed by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon. MKE SHIFT will celebrate typographic diversity with presentations on South American beer labels, a Cherokee syllabary, Schriftmania, an Arabic typeface. Attendees will also be treated to the Wisconsin premiere of Linotype: The Film. And typelore galore!
