MONTREAL/May 1, 2007—
On May 4-5, 2007, Concordia University will host Logo Cities, an international symposium on signage, branding and lettering in public space. The symposium will be held in the J.A. de SËve Cinema, located on the main floor of the J.W. McConnell Building (1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West), and will close with the Quebec premiere of the film Helvetica at 7:30 p.m. in room H-110 of the Henry F. Hall Building (1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West). Logo Cities will also include an art exhibition of creative works focusing on signage and lettering, alongside examples of old and new signs from around the city, such as the Monkland Tavern, Simcha and Warshaw signs (VAV Gallery in the Visual Arts Building, 1395 RenÈ LÈvesque Blvd. W.)
Cities are awash in 'public lettering': street signs, newspaper mastheads, road signs, high-rise corporate logos, store/shop/restaurant signs, engravings on buildings and monuments, etc. They are at once branding and promotional devices; names (of buildings); labels; locating devices; material and technological artifacts; pieces of graphic, typographic, and industrial design; architectural heritage; industrial detritus; personal and cultural narratives. Despite their overwhelming presence creating our cityscape, these signs have received relatively little attention, something Logo Cities aims to change.
Helvetica is a lively new documentary that has been playing to sell-out crowds around the world. The film explores the history and significance of this archetypal Modernist typeface which, for half a century, has been a ubiquitous presence in print and on signage in city streets, train stations and airports across the world. This screening will be introduced by the film's director, Gary Hustwit.
For more information, please contact Matt Soar at 514-848-2424 ext. 2542 or logocities.symposium@gmail.com.
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Source :
Tanya Churchmuch
Senior Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University
