JamraPatel

From Gambia through Senegal to Guinea: 1. Morning sentry at our hotel in Banjul; 2. National Assembly, seat of Gambian government; 3. The classic West African dog — seen everywhere, haven’t been able to identify the breed(s); 4. A rural school in Guinea, where the Adlam script is taught; 5. Teachers & students greet our party; 6. Morning in Labé; 7. Reciting a poem written in Adlam.

Conference days: 1. Unexpectedly in the stage party. L-R: Mark, Neil, Prof. Amadou Jalloh from Senegal, Abdoulaye & Ibrahima Barry, the inventors of the Adlam script; 2. We shared the stage with well-known African novelist Tierno Monénembo, and; 3. Adoua Kouassi, Président de l’académie ivoirienne des langues maternelle; 4. Many requested photos with us; 5. Security was tight; 6. Mark getting hauled off by the cops for disorderly conduct (just kidding — they asked for a pic); 7. Neil being interviewed by Afrika Pulaar TV; 8. Mark starting our presentation.

🍡 Wonderful new article! 🍭 in the 🍡 about "Alphabet City: Art, Culture, & Letterforms" at the in Biddeford. This remarkable show, featuring Kifah Abdulla] & Jamra Patel] , will be on view through January 7. Open to the public 8am-6pm! Link to article in bio.

ALPHABET CITY: ART, CULTURE, AND LETTERFORMS
Kifah Abdulla, Mark Jamra, and Neil Patel
October 8, 2021-January 7, 2022

Painter Kifah Abdulla’s work merges Modernist abstraction with Arabic calligraphy, bringing script into a place of intense visual expression. Originally from Baghdad, Iraq, Abdulla is a Maine-based painter, poet, and educator. Kifah Abdulla]

The design collaborations of Mark Jamra and Neil Patel, of the Portland-based design firm Jamra Patel, use clarity and elegance to make African alphabets accessible and precise. Their groundbreaking “Kigelia” project has brought beautiful, functional typefaces to a number of African languages. Jamra Patel]

The power of written communication spans a wide range in this show, from the beautifully obscured to the balanced and pure.

UNE Art Gallery Biddeford, Jack S. Ketchum Library, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford ME 04005
Gallery Hours: 8am-6pm daily. Please contact Hilary Irons for more information: [email protected]

A few pics of the exhibition “Alphabet City” at UNE-Biddeford Art Gallery, featuring work from our friend and our Kigelia typeface family. Everything is in place and looks great, thanks to UNE exhibitions director Hilary Irons .irons.h and her team.

ALPHABET CITY: ART, CULTURE, AND LETTERFORMS
Kifah Abdulla, Mark Jamra, Neil Patel
October 8, 2021-January 7, 2022

Painter Kifah Abdulla’s work merges Modernist abstraction with Arabic calligraphy, bringing script into a place of expression. The type design collaboration of Mark Jamra and Neil Patel uses clarity and elegance to make African writing systems accessible and precise. The power of written communication spans a wide range in this show, from the beautifully obscured to the balanced and pure.

UNE Art Gallery Biddeford, Jack S. Ketchum Library, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford ME 04005
Gallery Hours: 8am-6pm daily. Please contact Hilary Irons for more information: [email protected]