Why Writing The Word 'Freedom' Is More Powerful Than Typing It
Artist Ruben Malayan is bringing the ancient art of Armenian calligraphy into the mainstream.
by Malaka Gharib
Jul 03, 2018
4 minutes
Ruben Malayan, a lean, goateed artist, is teaching kids and visitors at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., to write the letter "A" in Armenian calligraphy.
On a sheet of computer paper, he inks a shape that looks like an old English "W," using a pen with a flat metal nib. His strokes — black line after black line, in perfect symmetrical succession — are hypnotic.
"It's like a rhythm, like you're playing the piano," Malayan says as he draws. "Long notes, long lines, short notes, short lines." The students watch him for a beat, then practice scratching out their
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