The Art of the Maya Glyph

The recent decipherment of Maya Hieroglyphs has opened a window into the intellectual and spiritual history of Ancient America. It is surprisingly easy to begin to understand the rudiments of Maya inscriptions. Like Japanese, Egyptian, and even English, Maya writing combines word-signs and sound-signs.

Combining instruction in decipherment, drawing tips, and strategies for recognizing signs in this mercurial script, this workshop offers fascinating and unexpected insights into the minds of Ancient Americans. Dr. Van Stone, co-author of *Reading the Maya Glyphs*, is a renowned calligrapher, teacher, author and expert in the interpretation and writing of Maya hieroglyphs. He is co-author (with Michael Coe) and illustrator of Reading the Maya Glyphs (Thames & Hudson, 2001 & 2005), he has taught many courses in Hieroglyphs and in Mesoamerican Art & Culture at his home school and at the University of San Diego, the University of California and at the Museum of Man in San Diego. Mark's work (and hands) were prominently featured in the documentary film Breaking the Maya Code premiered on PBS's NOVA in mid-April, 2008. He is completing a book for Thames and Hudson tentatively titled 2012: Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya.