East Smithfield Library to Teach the Art of Micrography

Although you may not have heard the term "Micrography" before, it's very likely that you've seen it many times. Commonly used in advertising, it is the art of using text instead of lines to form images when viewed at a distance, creating an interaction between the text and image.

East Smithfield Library (50 Esmond St.) is offering a class on Monday, April 22 from 6:30-8 p.m., which will teach participants the basics of this unique art-form while allowing them to try their hand at it. A common variation of Micrography used today is the illustration of portraits of poets, songwriters and authors using their own words, lyrics and quotes. The craft is also frequently used in advertising, theater and political propaganda, and in recent years has inspired ad campaigns by BMW, HSBC and Virgin Atlantic, among many others.

The word Micrography stems from the Greek term "Μι.κρογραφία", literally meaning "small-writing". It is becoming increasingly commonplace in graphic design and typography instruction programs as it becomes more prominent in popular culture.

Participants should bring their own photos as inspiration while they design self-portraits or photos of friends, family, pets, hobbies, heroes or anything else they can dream up! Materials will be provided at the free program, however pre-registration is required and can be done by calling (401) 231-5150.