Comments on: Pittsburgh Signs Project: appreciation of the glorious signage of Pittsburgh http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 07:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Shawn Green http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1179767 Shawn Green Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1179767 With anti-sign gov. being an issue for installing new signage, we may be looking at the past.  Most local sign ordinances make it a challenge to have a nice legible unique sign. With anti-sign gov. being an issue for installing new signage, we may be looking at the past.  Most local sign ordinances make it a challenge to have a nice legible unique sign.

]]> By: southhillsmotel69 http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1179374 southhillsmotel69 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1179374 Here is the correct link for Pittsburgh-based designer Brett Yasko, who designed our book, Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania: http://brettyasko.com Here is the correct link for Pittsburgh-based designer Brett Yasko, who designed our book,
Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania:

http://brettyasko.com

]]> By: Kimberly McKinnis http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1179361 Kimberly McKinnis Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1179361 This is fantastic - thanks for sharing! I had to buy the book, it made me homesick. This is fantastic – thanks for sharing! I had to buy the book, it made me homesick.

]]> By: southhillsmotel69 http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178940 southhillsmotel69 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178940 Thank you for the fantastic post, Cory! If anyone would like to see high-res images of the book, including its cover and contents, designed by Brett Yasko (http://brettyasko.com/), I have attached some here. Please note that the slide show features images from a Pittsburgh Signs Project night blitz event & from our online gallery, NOT from our book. Thank you all for noticing, looking & discussing! (Jennifer Baron, Pittsburgh Signs Project) Thank you for the fantastic post, Cory! If anyone would like to see high-res images of the book, including its cover and contents, designed by Brett Yasko (http://brettyasko.com/), I have attached some here. Please note that the slide show features images from a Pittsburgh Signs Project night blitz event & from our online gallery, NOT from our book. Thank you all for noticing, looking & discussing! (Jennifer Baron, Pittsburgh Signs Project)

]]> By: jaworskirob http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178914 jaworskirob Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178914 This is pretty cool. I've been thinking about doing the same thing here in San Jose, California.  We have lots of old signs hanging around, one of which is still standing over the new parking lot advertising a Pork Sausage shop that used to be there.  And over the weekend I just drove past the old Stage Stop on Monterey Road between SJ and Morgan Hill, haven't seen it in years, surprised it's still there.  And the Hart's Department Store sign that's painted on the side of a brick building.  And the deli downtown that isn't there anymore.  And there are tons more.  Holy crap, I need to start snapping them before they go away, like the Hart's sign, which is partially covered by graffiti covering paint.  Oh, and don't forget the old Andy's Pet Shop sign which was being preserved... Not sure where that is now.  Yep, there are lots around here! This is pretty cool. I’ve been thinking about doing the same thing here in San Jose, California.  We have lots of old signs hanging around, one of which is still standing over the new parking lot advertising a Pork Sausage shop that used to be there.  And over the weekend I just drove past the old Stage Stop on Monterey Road between SJ and Morgan Hill, haven’t seen it in years, surprised it’s still there.  And the Hart’s Department Store sign that’s painted on the side of a brick building.  And the deli downtown that isn’t there anymore.  And there are tons more.  Holy crap, I need to start snapping them before they go away, like the Hart’s sign, which is partially covered by graffiti covering paint.  Oh, and don’t forget the old Andy’s Pet Shop sign which was being preserved… Not sure where that is now.  Yep, there are lots around here!

]]> By: SedanChair http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178720 SedanChair Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178720 Old letterpress guys must be confused as hell that they're suddenly cool... Old letterpress guys must be confused as hell that they’re suddenly cool…

]]> By: GlenBlank http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178593 GlenBlank Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178593 Though if you like vintage commercial signage, I highly recommend Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=signs&w=25028863%40N00" rel="nofollow">Lord Jim's work, tagged "signs"</a>.  He's an LA-based photographer, and most of his sign photos are from LA or Las Vegas.  He's got a real eye for this sort of thing.  (He also has some great sets of street art.) Just kick on the slideshow full-screen and let it rip. :-) Though if you like vintage commercial signage, I highly recommend Flickr user Lord Jim’s work, tagged “signs”.  He’s an LA-based photographer, and most of his sign photos are from LA or Las Vegas.  He’s got a real eye for this sort of thing.  (He also has some great sets of street art.)

Just kick on the slideshow full-screen and let it rip. :-)

]]> By: hryc http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178590 hryc Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178590 That Arby's neon hat is one of the last of its kind in America, and that Heinz Ketchup bottle is definitely a Pittsburgh icon.  I'd say the "glory" here would come from a combination of things.  Style and design of the sign definitely plays a part, but so does the style of the photographer, and the design of the end product.  Couple this with the nostalgia, history, and meaning that these signs have to Pittsburghers (or anyone who comes from a similar place), and I think you definitely have something special. That Arby’s neon hat is one of the last of its kind in America, and that Heinz Ketchup bottle is definitely a Pittsburgh icon. 

I’d say the “glory” here would come from a combination of things.  Style and design of the sign definitely plays a part, but so does the style of the photographer, and the design of the end product.  Couple this with the nostalgia, history, and meaning that these signs have to Pittsburghers (or anyone who comes from a similar place), and I think you definitely have something special.

]]> By: GlenBlank http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178561 GlenBlank Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178561 Some of us love Craftsman houses because they embody a set of aesthetic principles that we find appealing - how rare or how common they might be is irrelevant.  (Indeed, it would make us happy if they were far more common.) I confess I've long been puzzled at the idea that some old, rusty piece of commercial kitsch is 'glorious' just because it's old and rusty and uncommon.  I dunno, maybe if you were raised in the sensory-deprivation chamber of a modern master-planned suburb where nothing's more than 30 years old... There are quite a few signs in that set that are a long, long way from 'glorious.'  Indeed, there are several there that could be used as examples of "How to Make Dull, Boring Commercial Signage" in a design class.  And seriously - An Arby's hat? The Spaghetti Warehouse?  A faded CLOSED sign made of cheap stick-on block letters?  A Heinz Ketchup bottle?  A sloppily hand-painted 7-Up gimme sign from the '70s?  The glorious, uniquely Pittsburghian STOP signs in glorious black and white? Some of us love Craftsman houses because they embody a set of aesthetic principles that we find appealing – how rare or how common they might be is irrelevant.  (Indeed, it would make us happy if they were far more common.)

I confess I’ve long been puzzled at the idea that some old, rusty piece of commercial kitsch is ‘glorious’ just because it’s old and rusty and uncommon.  I dunno, maybe if you were raised in the sensory-deprivation chamber of a modern master-planned suburb where nothing’s more than 30 years old…

There are quite a few signs in that set that are a long, long way from ‘glorious.’  Indeed, there are several there that could be used as examples of “How to Make Dull, Boring Commercial Signage” in a design class.  And seriously – An Arby’s hat? The Spaghetti Warehouse?  A faded CLOSED sign made of cheap stick-on block letters?  A Heinz Ketchup bottle?  A sloppily hand-painted 7-Up gimme sign from the ’70s?  The glorious, uniquely Pittsburghian STOP signs in glorious black and white?

]]> By: Greg Gollinger http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178491 Greg Gollinger Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178491 There's an amazing sign not shown here on South Avenue in Wilkinsburg near the Busway.  It belongs to an old lithography/typesetting shop that lists its phone number in the old style: FRemont 1-1854.  And yes, if you re-translate it and add the 412 area code, it's still valid. http://www.flickr.com/photos/12584147@N04/2678064114/ There’s an amazing sign not shown here on South Avenue in Wilkinsburg near the Busway.  It belongs to an old lithography/typesetting shop that lists its phone number in the old style: FRemont 1-1854.  And yes, if you re-translate it and add the 412 area code, it’s still valid.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12584147@N04/2678064114/

]]> By: Maurice Reeves http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178432 Maurice Reeves Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178432 Pittsburgh is such a great city with a shabby cool vibe.  It definitely has a character all its own.  I love it very much. Pittsburgh is such a great city with a shabby cool vibe.  It definitely has a character all its own.  I love it very much.

]]> By: Beta_Orionis http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178416 Beta_Orionis Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178416 Well, there are ~160 legally recognized Historic Districts within the city limits and that helps preserve signs that exist on building facades. We also are fortunate to have a wealth of old and independently owned businesses, which means more hand-painted, hand-made, and custom-designed signs! Many of the signs featured in the Flickr pool are things you'd likely see in other cities though. Also, Mr. Doctorow, a polite correction: Pittsburghese is the slang/language/dialect of the region; Pittsburghers are the folks. :) Well, there are ~160 legally recognized Historic Districts within the city limits and that helps preserve signs that exist on building facades. We also are fortunate to have a wealth of old and independently owned businesses, which means more hand-painted, hand-made, and custom-designed signs! Many of the signs featured in the Flickr pool are things you’d likely see in other cities though.

Also, Mr. Doctorow, a polite correction: Pittsburghese is the slang/language/dialect of the region; Pittsburghers are the folks. :)

]]> By: Elizabeth Perry http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178398 Elizabeth Perry Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178398 Thanks for the kind words. If you are interested in getting a copy, the book is still in stock at the list price at Carnegie Mellon's bookstore: http://bookstore.web.cmu.edu/MerchList.aspx?txtSearch=pittsburgh+signs&searchtype=Description&drpsearch2=Merchandise%20Desc Thanks for the kind words. If you are interested in getting a copy, the book is still in stock at the list price at Carnegie Mellon’s bookstore:
http://bookstore.web.cmu.edu/MerchList.aspx?txtSearch=pittsburgh+signs&searchtype=Description&drpsearch2=Merchandise%20Desc

]]> By: ericM http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178373 ericM Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178373 Ummm -- so why is this $29.95 book appearing for $123+ on Amazon right now???? Here we go with another $1M+ book on flies ;-) Tho I think this is a wonderful project and would love to have a copy. Note there are some other ways to order it mentioned on the project's web site. Ummm — so why is this $29.95 book appearing for $123+ on Amazon right now???? Here we go with another $1M+ book on flies ;-) Tho I think this is a wonderful project and would love to have a copy. Note there are some other ways to order it mentioned on the project’s web site.

]]> By: Mike Greco http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178327 Mike Greco Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178327 Does Pittsburgh really have more cool signage than any other town? Does Pittsburgh really have more cool signage than any other town?

]]> By: Abe Lincoln http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/pittsburgh-signs-project-appre.html#comment-1178324 Abe Lincoln Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111676#comment-1178324 Many thanks for posting this.  I haven't been back to Pittsburgh in years.  Many thanks for posting this.  I haven’t been back to Pittsburgh in years. 

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