'LetterScapes' By Anna Saccani Puts Typography In The Spotlight (PHOTOS)

"A public lettering is made unique by the relationships it sets up with what is around it: not a blank page, but the sky, the streets, the sunlight with the shadows it creates, the rain making the colours brighter, combined with the slow erosion from the passage of time," Anna Saccani writes in the introduction to her new book, "LetterScapes" (Thames & Hudson, May 2013).

What began as Saccani's doctoral thesis turned into an ode to the art of large-scale public typography projects. Besides Robert Indiana's iconic LOVE statue in Philadelphia, the book includes Lawerence Weiner's NYC manhole covers stating, "iN DiRECT LiNE WiTH ANOTHER & THE NEXT," as well as Maya Lin's Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Looking at both the sculptures themselves and how they function in a public context, Saccani shows us that "LOVE" can mean something different in New York City or in Tokyo, depending on the context.

Scroll down to see some of Saccani's LetterScapes in the slideshow, and tell us what your favorite examples of public lettering are in the comments.

• NYC MANHOLE COVERS, LAWRENCE WEINER

  Nineteen manhole covers were installed in New York City by the Public Art Fund in collaboration with the Consolidated Edison Company and the Roman Stone. Photo Credit: Kirsten Vibeke Thueson Weiner From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013)

• LITTLE SPARTA, IAN HAMILTON FINLAY

  From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013) Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Archive of Ian Hamilton Finlay and Sam Rebben

• HOUSE OF TERROR MUSEUM, ATTILA F. KOVACS

  Photo Credit: Attila F. Kovacs From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013)

• BRITISH LIBRARY GATES, CARDOZO KINDERSLEY WORKSHOP

  Details of the ?lettergrid? that makes up the gates of the British Library. Photo Credit: Gianluca Balzerano From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013)

• BARCINO, JOHN BROSSA

  The arrangement of Brossa?s individual sculptures in front of the original Roman walls. Photo Credit: Ruben Cruz Vegas From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013)

• WELLINGTON WRITERS WALK, CATHERINE GRIFFITHS

  From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013) Photo Credit: Jason Busch

• BRITISH LIBRARY GATES, CARDOZO KINDERSLEY WORKSHOP

  Gates constructed from letterforms grant entry to one of the world?s great temples of learning. Photo Credit: Carlos Santos Armendariz From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013)

• LOVE , ROBERT INDIANA

  The evolution of Robert Indiana?s idea from art piece, to public installation, to Pop icon. Photo credit: John Doe From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013)

• 9 WEST 57TH STREET, CHERMAYEFF & GEISMAR

  The curve of the skyscraper suggested the idea of a launching pad with the installation sliding down it and landing on the pavement. Photo Credit: Michele Bruni From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013)

• MARION CULTURAL CENTRE, ASHTON RAGGATT MCDOUGALL

  A symbolic integration of architecture and lettering creates a landmark for a growing community. Photo Credit: Peter Bennetts, Courtesy of the Ashton Raggatt McDougall Architecture From <em>LetterScapes</em> by Anna Saccani (Thames & Hudson, May 2013)

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/06/letterscapes-anna-saccani-put-typography-in-the-spotlight_n_2760305.html

Stacy Dash Amber Tamblyn Lilit Avagyan Nashville TV Show VP debate drew brees drew brees