DAVENPORT — The work of Father Edward Catich, who is widely considered one of the world’s finest calligraphers, is featured in the St. Ambrose University Catich Gallery each summer. This summer’s show, “Home,” will open June 13, and will highlight the connections between Fr. Catich’s domestic and work lives.
In addition to his world-renowned work as a calligrapher, Fr. Catich served as a priest, scholar, artist, author and teacher He was known as an international authority on stone incising, typography and stained glass fabrication. Fr. Catich’s work has been on exhibit at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and Harvard University, and his alphabet stones remain in the permanent collections of several museums. He designed the corporate identity symbol for Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. and examples of his lettering work in stone are kept in its permanent collection.
Fr. Catich served as a Los Angeles County Art Museum board member, editor of the Catholic Art Quarterly and founder of the St. Ambrose Art Department where he taught for 40 years until his death in 1979. Throughout his career he led calligraphy workshops for Hallmark Cards, Inc. and wrote a series of books including, “The Origin of the Serif: Brush Writing and Roman Letters,” demonstrating his knowledge of the Roman alphabet, its origin, nature and history.
The St. Ambrose Catich Gallery is located in the Galvin Fine Arts Center and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, or by appointment. “Home” will open with a reception on Thursday, June 19, from 5-7 p.m. and the new exhibit will run through Sept. 5.
