Chalk It Up to Experienced Sign-Making
A quarter-century ago, Nanny Mary Poppins, Bert the chimney sweep, and Jane and Michael Banks had themselves a right “jolly holiday,” gallivanting through the sidewalk chalk art in London. Although this modern-day United Kingdom chalk-sign art might not meet with Poppins’ approval — it is pub art, after all — we nonetheless find it supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Sign-maker Steve Davidson, California Signs & Designs, Oceanside, CA, sent us these sign photos after a recent trip to Scotland. He writes: “I called a couple of people in Scotland once I got home, but after questioning these sources, I didn’t have my answer. No one knew who this artist was. I’m so fascinated because these signs have one of the most interesting approaches to sign-making I have ever seen.”
We agree with Davidson’s assessment. If you know who the mysterious chalk-wielding sign-maker is, drop us a line. We’d like to make the talented lad or lass a wee bit famous.
Bobby Fischer, Eat Your Heart Out
When it comes to cardboard, Dennis Humphrey (Calgary, Alberta) is king. No rook-y to manipulating the paper material, this sign-maker and inventor frequently uses cardboard to create art and sculpture.
Recently, he spent many long days and (k)nights creating this chessboard, which he displayed at the Discovery ’98 Letterhead meet in Banff, Alberta. In fact, Humphrey estimates a 1,000-hour investment in the game’s fabrication. Next time you’re in Canada, “check” it out, first-hand.
Inflated Egos Prove Popular
“Tubes” are back in style. Today’s tubes, however, are a little different than the halters that rubber-banded 1970s’ “me-generation” disco queens. For example, today’s tubes, while still bouncy and attention-getting, are supported by air — not silicon.
TubeWorks Inc., Calabasas, CA, manufactured the inflatable tubes pictured here. The company’s customer, EZ Corp., used the custom, moving inflatables for self-promotion at various special events. “We noticed an instant spike in customer traffic and in sales after putting up the moving inflatables,” says Mitch Carley, EZ’s marketing director. And Carley isn’t just full of hot air; he has actually proved his hypothesis. “As a test, we removed the inflatables for a while and watched the traffic decline,” he says.