We are excited to announce the next edition of our Fresh Cuts Film Series. We will be hosting a viewing of the movie Sign Painters on February 27 at the Rialto Theater. More details to come in the coming weeks. This will be a great event, so be sure to mark your calendars and join us to celebrate the craft of sign painting.
There was a time, as recently as the 1980s, when storefronts, murals, banners, barn signs, billboards, and even street signs were all handlettered with brush and paint. But, like many skilled trades, the sign industry has been overrun by the techno-fueled promise of quicker and cheaper. The resulting proliferation of computer designed, diecut vinyl lettering and inkjet printers has ushered a creeping sameness into our landscape. Fortunately, there is a growing trend to seek out traditional sign painters and a renaissance in the trade.
In 2010 filmmakers Faythe Levine, coauthor of Handmade Nation, and Sam Macon began documenting these dedicated practitioners, their time honored methods, and their appreciation for quality and craftsmanship. Sign Painters, the first anecdotal history of the craft, features stories and photographs of more than two dozen sign painters working in cities throughout the United States. With a foreword by legendary artist (and former sign painter) Ed Ruscha, this vibrant book profiles sign painters young and old, from the new vanguard working solo to collaborative shops such as San Francisco’s New Bohemia Signs and New York’s Colossal Media’s Sky High Murals.
An event series that features design-related films, paired with expert speakers on the film’s theme. There are some amazing stories to share, and we’re excited to kick off exclusive, one-night only screenings of great new design films. AIGA Raleigh’s Fresh Cut Film series is a chance to get together, catch up with colleagues and relax with a movie.