Sign Painters

There was a time when storefronts, murals, banners, barn signs, billboards and even street signs were all hand-lettered 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, die-cut 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. The filmmakers traveled the country documenting these dedicated practitioners, their time-honored methods, and their appreciation for craftsmanship. This lovely film is the first anecdotal history of the craft.
(Faythe Levine, Sam Macon; USA; 2013; 80 min)

Co-presented with AIGA Pittsburgh and the Miller Gallery at CMU.