Calligrapher to present at Goodyear’s July Hot Coffee Art Lecture

The city of Goodyear’s Arts and Culture Commission will host professional calligrapher Renee McAdam for its upcoming Hot Coffee Art Lecture, scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Goodyear City Hall, 1900 N. Civic Square.

McAdam will present “More Than Words: Traditional Calligraphy in Modern Times,” a talk exploring how traditional calligraphy continues to find relevance in the digital age. Her presentation will include photographs of recent commissioned projects and insight into her process, preferred scripts and client trends.

She will also address common misconceptions about the art form, highlighting the differences between handwriting and calligraphy and discussing why lettering arts remain in practice today.

McAdam has studied calligraphy for nearly 30 years, beginning with her first class as a child. In adulthood, she sought instruction from experienced calligraphers across the country and developed skills in broad edge calligraphy, pointed pen work, brush lettering, glass engraving and hand-drawn lettering. She joined the Calligraphic Society of Arizona in 2017 and currently serves as the guild’s web chair.

In addition to client work, McAdam offers in-person workshops and calligraphy classes throughout the year. Her instruction covers topics such as Copperplate script, Italic lettering, hand-drawn typography and historic writing styles like Spencerian script.

The Hot Coffee Art Lecture Series is a free, monthly program organized by the city’s Arts and Culture Commission. Each lecture features a guest speaker from the visual or performing arts, and aims to provide residents with informal learning opportunities tied to creative practice and cultural expression.

Admission is free and open to the public. The July 29 lecture will be held in the Canyon Trails Training Room inside City Hall at Goodyear Civic Square.

Visit goodyearaz.gov for more information.