Run, don't walk to the Tobias Frere-Jones exhibition at the narrows. You shouldn't even finish reading this post. Don't even check your hair on the way out. Tell your family and friends not to disturb you, put your phone on silent, or even turn it off and tell everyone that you are not to be disturbed for the next hour. I'll just wait until you come back. I don't mind. While you're there, pick up both of the sublime poster. If The Narrows isn't open, either wait outside for the next few day until it is or even better, go sit in the corner and think about what you've done until they open the doors again.
Right, now that you're back we can get back to it. If you were like me, and were hoping for sketches, typeface samples and other examples of his work and were initially disappointed. That is ok. If you stayed disappointed, shame on you. Go back there until it all washes over you. Look at each and every photo until you understand that you are witnessing the world seen through a genius. A meticulous genius who has recorded every important example of vernacular lettering in the lower half of Manhattan. This is not his work you're looking at, but the world through his eyes, which is a much greater gift.
What began as initial studies for
Gotham grew into a sprawling collection of the history of New York. To anyone who
doesn't know what Gotham is, refer to the Obama campaign posters, the 9/11 foundation stone, and pretty much any piece of design made in the past 2 years. You can clearly see the origins and structure of the face within the letterforms. Not to mention how much research went into it. Speaking of research, Tobias has provided the maps that he made to track Manhattan and where each example was. Each map is one days work. How much walking he could get done in a day recording as many examples as possible. Oh, I forgot to highlight that he made these maps. You want to see a man who knows his craft, who can make a map like nobody's business, you're looking at them right here. Clear, concise and with immaculate typography. But really, what do you expect? Pick up the posters, but you already knew that didn't you. One side is a huge grid of what seems to be all the photos, the other side, the maps. Look at the maps, understand the maps. Look at them again.
Too those of us who saw him speak at AGIdeas last week, know that we were blessed. But we already knew that didn't we. Some speakers seem to ramble on, uncertain of the direction of their presentation, others shout and try and whip the crowd into a frenzy of excitement. Not Tobias. Clear, concise, and presented with a deep understanding of how to move through narrative. Clearly presented, it was by far the best presentation throughout the whole conference. I wish I had have taken some photos of it, or recorded it to put up, but I was too spellbound to take my eyes off the subject matter. He went through how Gotham came to be, which was interesting, but something everyone knows by now. It was when he got onto
Archer that I think I tried not to blink for fear of missing anything.
Oh, did I forget that I had a nice chat to him as well? Funny how some things seem to slip the mind. Two conversations, not one, but two. Not bragging, I just thought you might like to know so the next time you see me, you might want to get on your knees and worship me and the hand that shook his. And no, I wasn't beneath asking for an autograph. But that's for another day. I'll try and post images of the book celebrating the Gerrit Noordzij prize which he won. It's a fantastic book that chronicles his life's work. Interviews, history and what seems to be every typeface he's ever made. Its quite remarkable. And if you're lucky I'll show you what his autograph looks like. Meanwhile, go over and read the article in
The Age if you want (need) more. If you're still here, and you haven't left, I urge you to run to The Narrows right now before it's too late.
