Regardez Les Enseignes D

Val Hadshinow, the semi-retired founder of Signs by Val (North Arlington, VA), has led a unique life. Born in Russia in 1943, he was captured as an infant and forced with his family to a Nazi concentration camp. After the Allied forces prevailed and shuttered the camps, his family lived itinerantly until settling in the south of France in 1951. They lived there for eight years before emigrating to the U.S.

Hadshinow pursued artistic passions and began fabricating stained glass in the 1960s. From there, he transformed his studio into a sign-fabrication shop. He diligently pursued his craft for decades, often working 70 hours a week. Now, Hadshinow enjoys the well-earned opportunity to stop and smell the roses with an annual trek back to France. This year, he visited the Alsace region, which sits on the German border and takes it cultural cues from both sides of the border.

Like many of France’s agricultural regions, grapes are harvested in Alsace to make wine, but, unlike the red vintages from Bordeaux, Alsatians vintners typically produce Rieslings and other white wines more commonly associated with Germany. Dozens of breweries, Kronenbourg and Heineken, also call the region home.

According to Hadshinow, the signage resembles medieval-era signage: “Literacy wasn’t common in those times, so signage had to offer a graphic depiction of the type of business inside. Today, the signs they contain some verbiage, but they still primarily include a graphic rendering. Also, they’re mostly handpainted wood and are hung from traditional, iron scrolls.”

Although new-generation signage and environmental graphics serve a valuable purpose in promoting and perpetuating the sign industry, I think it’s worthwhile to take a moment and revel in the craft’s traditions. I hope you’ll take a minute to enjoy Val’s photos.

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