The Theory of Matter

A A A Comments By Susan Froyd Thursday, Dec 10 2009

Graphic designer Rick Griffith is type-cast, but in his case, it’s a good thing. His fascination with fonts led him this year on a pilgrimage to three shrines to the wooden letterpress progenitors of the modern typeface: the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Hatch Show Print in Nashville, the Hamilton Woodtype Museum in Wisconsin, and the Rob Roy Kelly American Wood Type Collection at the University of Texas at Austin. And he brought a load of historically awesome typographic booty back with him for inspiration. That will be the highlight of Underwear (lowercase), a celebration of “typographic nerdery,” Griffith’s eleventh annual holiday print sale and party at his Matter Studio, 2134 Market Street.

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The “underwear” part refers to the designer’s own Matterial line, a compendium of everything from posters and journals to T-shirts, poodle skirts and, yes, graphic undies; the “lowercase” refers to “the fact that underwear is for your lower region.” But never mind the event’s arcane side: Matterial wares and wood type treasures will all be for sale during the event, which begins at 7 p.m. and continues into the wee hours; spins by three hip DJs and a fish tank full of mojitos will keep things lively. Plus — and this is particularly good news — the evening marks the launch of Matter’s new storefront.

Is Griffith your type? For more information, go to www.matterstudio.com.
Fri., Dec. 11, 7 p.m.-1 a.m., 2009

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