Frederic Goudy and H. G. Wells: The Time Traveler’s Typeface presented by artist Rex Parker

Friday, November 15, 2019, 3:00 PM
Rare Book & Manuscript Library
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Main Library 346
1408 W Gregory Drive
Urbana, Illinois 61801

217-333-3777
This event is free to the public
Learn more at this link

Park Ridge artist Rex Parker will present an original, illustrated program, “Frederic Goudy & H. G. Wells: The Time Traveler’s Typeface.” It explores a book publishing dream team: Frederic Goudy, “the titan of type” and H. G. Wells, the “time-traveler novelist,” and their remarkable collaboration on The Door in the Wall — a collection of thrilling short stories and the creation of a timeless typeface Kennerley Old Style.

The Rare Book & Manuscript Library at University of Illinois will exhibit rare editions printed on Goudy’s Village Press and William Morris’s Kelmscott Press. Also on display will be letters, manuscript and photographs from the University Library’s H. G. Wells Collection, the largest in the world.

Rex’s work is available for public viewing in a variety of Galleries, Museums, Universities, and other permanent collections throughout the United States and abroad: including the F. Scott Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, Rochester Institute of Technology-Cary Graphic Arts Collection in New York, California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, Illinois State University in Normal, Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow, California, Chicago Design Archive, Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, University of Houston in Texas, and the William Morris Society Museum at Kelmscott House in London, England.

Grant Grove, Nature’s Cathedral of Giant Sequoias, inspired my Earth Day Poster — Available on Tuesday, June 25th!

A visit to the spectacular Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park was my inspiration for the Earth Day 2019 Poster. A walk through the splendor and wonder of natures cathedral of giant sequoias — is a spiritual experience.

In this day and age, Earth Day is more important than it has ever been before. With climate change ravaging our planet, it’s imperative to continue to preserve what nature has given us. It is time to make the hard choices, that will make all the difference for our planet and future generations.

The Chicago Design Archive adds Rex Parker’s work to its remarkable collection of the best of Chicago design

The Chicago Design Archive, a virtual museum of the best of Chicago design, has added over 30 posters by Parker to its remarkable collection. He is only the third person from Park Ridge, Illinois to be so honored, the others are Frederic Goudy and Alfonso Iannelli.

“It is so cool to be included in the Chicago Design Archive — It’s like being inducted into the designers’ version of the Baseball Hall of Fame,” Parker says. “I’m humbled to have my work added to a collection of Chicago works that feature such design greats as John Massey, Ralph Eckerstom, Herbert Bayer, Oswald Cooper, Paul Rand, and Susan Jackson Keig.”

The Archive is committed to preserving the history of Chicago’s design and Chicago’s creative vision. “The Chicago Design Archive is an outstanding resource for the arts in education everywhere, so that tomorrow’s creative people can develop and share their talents with all of us,” Parker says.

You can check out Parker’s virtual exhibit at the Chicago Design Archive here!

Futuro “Flying Saucer” Poster just landed on the Futuroworld’s out-of-this world website

“The Futuro House” is the best website for all things Futuro! The Futuro, a colorful Flying Saucer shaped, house was the brain child of Finnish architect Matti Suuronen.

First used as a ski cabin, the UFO shaped house would go on to fame as a sci-fi icon of the 60’s. Since the ellipse shaped structure is only 26 feet across, it could be transported on a flatbed truck or hoisted into place with a helicopter.

I am thrilled to have “The Futuro House” website post my space-age inspired poster. Check out the utopian universe for the Futuro House at www.thefuturohouse.com or on Instagram @thefuturohouse.

"Frederic Goudy, William Morris and the Kelmscott/Goudy Press" Park Ridge Public Library - Tuesday, May 7th, 2019

In celebration of the 115th Anniversary of the legendary Village Press founded by Frederic Goudy in Park Ridge in 1903, Park Ridge artist Rex Parker will present an original, illustrated program on “Frederic Goudy, William Morris and the Kelmscott/ Goudy Press.”

The Kelmscott/Goudy press, was named for it’s first owner William Morris, pioneer of the British Arts and Crafts Movement and founder of the Kelmscott Press then later American type designer Frederic Goudy of the Village Press. This famous iron hand press, Albion no. 6551, was manufactured by Hopkinson & Cope, London in 1891. William Morris used the press to print the magnificent Kelmscott Chaucer. The Albion hand press came to the America in 1924, when it was bought by “Frederic Goudy: The Titan of Type” in 1924.

The program starts on Tuesday, May 7th at 7 P.M. at the Park Ridge Public Library. The Library is located at 20 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, Illinois and is just a few steps from the uptown Metra station - Union Pacific/Northwest line. This event is free to the public: you can reserve a seat by calling 847-825-3123 or by using the button below.