Presentation: The Many Flavors of Blackletter

Saturday, 7/5/2025
2:00 - 4:00
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room A
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room B
Main Library

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

415-557-4400

Calligrapher Raoul Martinez demonstrates the Blackletter script.

Raoul Martinez had an informal exposure to calligraphy while he was in college. In 2009, his interest was rekindled by the Kalligraphia exhibit. He started taking classes offered by Atelier Gargoyle and Friends of Calligraphy, where he fell in love with all things blackletter. Raoul’s artwork has been shown at the San Francisco Public Library, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Filoli, the Presentation Center and the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, and has been published in the Speedball Textbook and Alphabet. Raoul hosts the Blackletter Brunch, a monthly online salon for blackletter enthusiasts. 

Connect: Raoul Martinez - Instagram | Raoul Martinez - Website

This program is part of KALLIGRAPHIA 2025, the triennial exhibition by Friends of Calligraphy, in association with Book Arts & Special Collections. This year's exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Friends of Calligraphy.

Image: Calligraphy by Raoul Martinez

Creative Arts

Exercise your power of imagination with programs that encourage hands-on projects for adults. For craft programs, all materials are provided, unless noted.

Typography and Calligraphy

Attend programming, lectures and workshops on the art, design and function of lettering.

Spotlight

This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.

Public Notice and Disclaimer

This program uses a third-party website link. By clicking on the third-party website link, you will leave SFPL's website and enter a website not operated by SFPL. This service may collect personally identifying information about you, such as name, username, email address, and password. This service will treat the information it collects about you pursuant to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services. For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of SFPL’s Privacy Policy describing Links to Other Sites.

The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.