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What is a letterhead?
I have over the years heard many people try to explain just what a letterhead is and most all of us have fallen short with that challenge. But what is ‘ letterheads ’? Well now that is easier to define. Letterheads is the term used to describe the international movement, made up of signmaking and associated professionals who gather periodically at different places throughout the world with the express mandate of ‘keeping the craft alive’. There have been many folk who have written of this phenomenon, not the least of which is a wonderful descriptive ‘history of the letterhead movement’ written by Mike Jackson (most of us know Mike’s work from the pages of Signcraft magazine) In Australia the letterhead movement has been alive since the early 1990’s and continues to grow in both spirit and diversity of events with each passing year. Perhaps the most active letterhead in this country, if we are to count attendances at meetings, would have to be John Jordan from Jordan Sign company in Sydney nsw. John has over many years been our ambassador to the letterhead world, he has been a regular at the annual international events held in North American and also Great Britain. I did hear a rumour that his family pay him to stay away from the factory nowadays, but after all his many years in the trade ( John is a few years off 70... In the other direction that is ) I'm sure it’s meant in the nicest possible way (wink) When John (Jordo) put up his hand to host Australia's 2002 International Letterhead Meeting at Jordan Signs, I know many of us were excited about the prospect of what his meeting would hold, we were not disappointed in our expectations. Jordan Signs is a family business made up of enthusiastic and highly talented signmakers. Situated in Caringbah on Sydney’s southern side and now days with John’s son Paul at the helm, it continues to care for all types of clients from the huge Woolworth's chain to the local leco ‘who just needs his ute doin’. The sheer amount of organisation it takes to host a meeting that has ’ something for everyone’ is truly daunting to think about, but Jordo and PJ had it all very much under control right from the start, especially when you saw how much running around Vicky and Brian did! As each person signed the guest-book we were given our meeting T-shirt along with a gift bag filled with allsorts of great items, samples of all manner of things useful in today’s sign shop One of the most anticipated highlights of this years event for lots of us was the attendance of the highly talented Mike Lavallee and his equally gifted partner Rhonda Price all the way from Seattle WA (yes Jordo the ‘other Washington’) It has been my great pleasure to have known Mike Lavallee, via the letterville website, for a long time now, and a dream of mine that one day we would get him down-under, so that Aussies could meet in person not only a gifted artist but a real nice bloke. I mentioned to Mike at this event, that the reality of his attendance at one of our meetings turned out for me to be, way better that the fantasy... I know that I speak for everyone there when I express our gratitude to him for sharing his many skills (and his sense of humour) with all his new mates. I watched as Rhonda had quite a few folk (me included) totally absorbed in her prismatised lettering skills, and want to take this opportunity to thank her from all our hearts for the time and gentle patience she showed us. Aussies are by nature skilled at understatement but once you're a mate, you're a mate for life.... Thanks heaps mate. Friday morning was unusual in that everyone jumped right in to their projects without the hesitation that is a normal part of being a stranger in a large group. At Jordo’s meeting it was planed to combine a gilding workshop along side the ususal projects we have come to expect. 20 people had their names down to participate in this unique opportunity to study with the master, and I have to say they were more like kid’s in a lolly shop than trained professionals in the sign trade as their glass panels were spotted for the first time. The books of precious gold n silver flew open, knives and mops at the ready. I noted at least one letterhead made it his mission to gild everything within reach, even himself, as the first day got underway.
Downstairs on the main floor
the Airboys (sorry Vicky it’s just habit) grabbed pre-coated panels off
the shelf and set-to creating their magic.... When I grow up I want to be
clever like them!
I know that PJ’s daughter Kate was overcome by the generosity of one attendee when she was given a panel which had the ever present green frog depicted, has anyone else noticed that Dan the man is actually starting to look a little green around the edges? I wonder if it’s the effects of painting frogs or the lubrication required to have that much fun for 3 days that turns him that colour? Further down the workshop the bus, a local community vehicle, was being prepared for paint and with Mike steering the group working on it, everyone jumped right in. It has to be said at this point that no letterhead meeting in Oz is without a few staple’s, along with the paint, gold, brushes, knives and stabilo’s go BEER, bungers, BEER, food, BEER, jokes, Beer, softdrink and more BEER and this event was no exception! One visitor commented during the weekend that Aussies drink a lot of beer... ya think? All things being equal as Friday went well into Saturday I didn’t see a dry eye (from laughter) or a dry throat in the house! Saturday started way early, after a 4am finish the day before it sure seemed that way. As Devo & I were sleeping upstairs in the office we were on hand to see all the comings and goings. In hindsight leaving Devo in charge of security could have to be the biggest oxymoron I know... What’s that Jordo ‘No explosives this year’ yeah sure mate, no worries! I found myself wandering around the factory floor in my jammies, heading for the boys loo to have a shower, while folk were arriving for the days mayhem. If anyone thought it strange they never said as much. Although Mary Dellow, Ted Haynes partner, did ask wether they were my ‘going away from home’ jammies or just my regular ‘at home ones’ only a woman would know the difference (grin) You know if that had happened to anyone else I would have had a field day ribbin them about it, it’s just not as funny from the other side... *Note to self ‘ get dressed BEFORE greeting total strangers’ Upstairs the glass room was cookin, melting gelatine that is, and by this time Mick George reconds he was standing 2” higher than everyone else cause of all the gold he’d dropped on the floor. One of the gilders tried to start a flood I’m sure with all the water he had pooled around his feet. The only break in their concentration was the huge grins I saw when I stoped by to take pictures. Downstairs there were panels shaped like bike tanks, guitars and banjo’s being decorated while the bus was still being adorned. A wagon wheel was attached to the wall and the ‘make a wish’ banner slung up showing the work of the next generation of Jordan Signs (John’s 15 year old grandson) the boy starts his apprentiship next year I was told as his grandfathers chest filled with pride. Scott’s skill at his very young age is self evident, and his quiet answer of ‘a signwriter’ when asked what he was going to be when he grew up reflected the joy in his family’s faces . Saturday evening is the time for speeches and awards but this year bonus was a lucky door prize giveaway which meant that every attendee was assured of taking home even more goodies. Jordo welcomed everyone and went on to introduce our visiting celebrity. Mike Lavallee shared a few heartfelt words about the opportunity to come down-under and see first hand what we Aussies do to the tradition that is letterheads, I know I wasn’t the only one touched by his warmth and appreciation for the invitation. Mike talked about the internet, in particular Letterville, as his first connection to Aussie signwriters and airbrush artists. I am aware that visits already made to his place by the likes of Rod Tickle, Darren Wenzel and Vicky Middleton have left a lasting impression and formed some wonderful friendships. Mike ended his dialogue by saying that he is proud to call us all mates and I know that further mateship's started at this meeting will go on with more visits in both directions for a long time to come. Oh and while I think of it, if you ever get the chance, ask him to show you a card trick or two, they should work (grin) PJ started the lucky door prize proceedings with the very loverly Chumly (Darren Watkins) as his giveaway girl and Mark Tailby as official numbers man. PJ's personal welcome to everyone ended with the removal of an identification badge from an attendee. They told me I had been demoted and that they had to take my badge away! All I knew was that we needed our badges because our lucky numbers were on the back of them, so I thought it was their tricky way of making sure I didn’t get a present. Instead they replaced my badge with a new one which had slightly different wording on it as Paul awarded a most precious accolade, the first Australian Letterheads Life Member trophy... to me. At the time I was almost speechless and for those of you who’ve met me, you will appreciate the rarity of that condition. I know that I neglected to thank everyone properly for this honour, as words just don’t do the job well enough. For those who attended I would like to say how humble I feel, that you whom I admire so very much think what I do is anything special. I am truly in awe of your talent and intensely grateful for your generosity. That you let me share your moments of madness which is an Aussie meet is heaven, more than that you make me so proud to be a letterhead. Thank you
The evening went on with a
tape recorded message from one of NSW’s finest, Sargent Callum Curry
who sadly couldn’t be there in person, it went like this: ‘ Beattie &
Watkins, I’m watching you!’
Referring of course to last years little escapade where those two almost got us a free nights accommodation in a cell. Locked up in Portland, now that’s a good look.... not. Mark Tailby was awarded a magnificent gold panel of this years event logo for his companies intense involvement and it is with all our thanks that Graphic Art Mart are the primary sponsor of letterheads in Australia And then each of us in turn received our free gift, for some that was a set of Mike (Jaguar) Lavallee brushes, T-shirts, Airbrushes, Banana Banners, rolls of Vinyl Mask and other assorted signmaking stuff! Amidst other things Saturday bought us good food, good company and not too few laughs. Between resident funny men Ron Andrews (act), Brian Fairchild (nz), Mike Lavallee (usa), Jeff Harvey (nz), Troy Kenny (qld) taking a breath became more difficult than you can imagine. We talked about voting on where next year would take us with submissions from both Brett (River Graphics) Renmark SA and Peter & Suzy Bedgood from Cairns qld to host 2003 Jim Fredrick was the lucky winner of the airbrushed fridge. Simon Reich (vic), Clint Hall (nsw) and others kept us entertained with the best in-house music. At this point I must mention that the MG award this year goes to Clinton Hall, for those of you not familiar with this special prize I will endeavour to explain. Each year there is one person who, not withstanding the groups best effort, manages to complete not one iota of work during the whole 3 days. This person never makes it to groups photo’s on Sunday mornings and collectively achieve a high level of total inactivity diverting any and all energy’s into drinking copious amounts of alcohol and maintaining as you would expect a degree of awareness second to none... And I mean NONE. In the past this award, named after to date the only recipient, Mick George ( mg signs nsw ) has been quietly given a few weeks after the meeting when he has finally woken up. Clint be prepared your award is on it’s way! Neil White (whitey) gladly donated the use of his laptop for Headtv which was planed to be broadcast over the internet for the whole weekend... My laptop refused to play all day Friday due to murphy's law and so when whitey’s puter threw a hissy fit shortly after plugging it in on Saturday, we just gave up. We figured that it wasn’t meant to be with our dumb bad luck, sorry to those who really wanted to share the meeting ‘live’ with us, but we really did try! Most everyone headed off in the wee small hours of Sunday morning and grabbed what few moments of sleep they could before starting it all again. Sunday morning we had a few sore heads... It’s not a prerequisite to party all night at a letterhead meeting but gee it’s fun! I spent time on Sunday gathering attendees comments on my tape recorder for posterity (oh, alright then for blackmail) and I am pleased to report that we had only a very few negative responses.
The positive responses went as
follows
The meeting was great because: 1/ 95% believed everything about it was great 2/ it (australia) doesn’t sux 3/ Darren Wenzel needs to learn to drink 4/ Kev Browne said ‘Good’.. Kev the master of understatement
The prized fridge was
airbrushed by the dynamic trio of Lavallee, Seddon & Wenzel and showed
that bright orange is still a decorator colour
Group photo’s were taken amidst lots of laughter and a show of hands for next year. You will be thrilled to know we are off to Cairns in the far north of Qld for 2003 Ray Climpson was the lucky winner of the 20 sheets of sign board, couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke To my great delight Ben Hadfield turned up on Sunday and played his Dig for us, as one of the gifts Mike and Rhonda were given was their own Diggereedoo (now you really didn’t expect me to spell that right did you) signed by many at the meeting, Ben was able to give Mike a few pointers. Mike in turn added more art to Ben’s now famous decorated Dig.
Overall there was so much to
see and learn, way more people than I have mentioned here to thank for
their work and sense of fun.
I know that the smiles on
faces as folk left will stay with them for some long time yet and will
only be replaced by next years grins.
To first timers like Pete
Owens, Troy Kenny, Scott Jordan, Vicky Van Der Meer, John Darcy to
name a very few, welcome to the best thing you can do for your enthusiasm
in this craft.
To my letterheads friends,
thanks for a great weekend as always.
To the whole Jordan clan.....
Gracias por la oportunidad de sentir el amor y la parte con tan muchos amigos finos !
gail
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