Ghost Signs: The Dying Art of Hand-Painted Advertisements
It’s impossible to deny how pervasive advertising has become. I suppose that’s what happens when giant corporations — with seemingly bottomless ad budgets — are hell bent on separating you from your money. McDonald’s wants you to shell out cash and choke down a bunch of McGriddles. Apple wants you to worship at its altar, buy an Ipad for everyone in your family. Starbucks wants you to wash down your distaste for the day with a gallon of whatever ridiculous coffee it’s hustling. This is nothing new, of course, so there’s no need to harp on the obvious.
But something I am continually fascinated by is the connection between advertising and art. The latter is a defining element in the world of selling — the face of a company’s product. It is artists — graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, etc. — who are charged with creating and refining the visual identities of corporations like Apple and Starbucks. A new documentary titled Up There got me thinking about this strange but symbiotic relationship between advertising and art.
The film examines the dying art of hand-painted advertisements, or ghost signs. With the rise of supergraphics in recent years — large vinyl banners designed to cover entire sides of buildings — the relevance and cost-effectiveness of paying to have advertisements painted by hand is in question. Up There, produced by Mother New York and Stella Artois, examines this fading art through the stories of a group of New York painters who continue to hand paint these advertisements.
The film attempts to sentimentalize the work of these painters, which it does well. We learn that, just like any skilled trade, learning how to paint on such a grand scale takes time, practice, and requires the wisdom of a patient mentor. But the underlying themes here are really old versus new, better versus cheaper. This film is a love letter to the ways of the past. How long until the handful of painters shown in this video begin to dwindle in number? How long until quantity (vinyl signs) trumps quality (hand-painted signs)?
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[...] Ghost Signs: The Dying Art of Hand-Painted Advertisements … [...]
Thanks for the pointer to this lovely little film. One of the many things I admire about it is that it doesn’t bang you over the head with the fact of its corporate sponsorship. Stella Artois gets the eyeballs it paid for, but in a really subtle and judicious way. And the craftsmanship of the film itself is really quite beautiful Good on ‘em, all around.
I agree Bill. I get the impression that Stella Artois might actually be supportive of hand-painted advertisements as an artform.
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[...] Ghost Signs: The Dying Art of Hand-Painted Advertisements … [...]
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Extremely enjoyable post. NYC aside, I take frequent photography road trips around the USA, and ghost signs are one of the most common and interesting sights in a small town. They provide a direct window into the history of a town, and they represent local businesses and people as often as larger corporations.
Thanks Michael. What I really like about ghost signs is what you mentioned, the way they tap into the historical element of a town. Unfortunately — though not always — these signs are reminders of a more prosperous time. In Western Pennsylvania, where I live, there are literally hundreds of small towns past their prime. Half empty main streets, ghost signs for long-shuttered department stores barely visible on the sides of crumbling brick buildings. It’s hopeful to see that some painters are still dedicated to the art.
In response to another comment. See in context »[...] Ghost Signs: The Dying Art of Hand-Painted Advertisements – Matthew Newton – Annals of A… [...]
[...] A moving short documentary about the rapidly fading art of hand-painted, large-scale wall advertisements in New York City, produced by Mother NY. View the full movie here. (Via True/Slant.) [...]
Really great piece. I walked by a Sex and the City 2 ad being painted on Bleecker & 7th recently, and was really impressed with it. A few years ago I took a fresco painting class in Italy and love to see that some of the same technique is applied here. Much respect for the painters who do this. Cheers!
Really great piece! I walked by a Sex and the City 2 ad being painted on Bleecker & 7th recently, and was really impressed with it. A few years ago I took a fresco painting class in Italy and love to see that some of the same technique is applied here. Much respect for the painters who do this. Cheers!
[...] Up There, a documentary about hand-painted advertisements [...]
[...] in general is a fascinating, dying art. If you’re interested in learning about it, check out Ghost Signs: The Dying Art of Hand-Painted Advertisements. This entry was posted in photo and tagged design, northampton, typography, westernma by mel. [...]