Neon Cafe Blog

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Biggest-ever VIVID Sydney will wash city in colour

Spice News: Special Events, Product Launches, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibition - Biggest-ever VIVID Sydney will wash city in colour

From giant light sculptures of floating jellyfish and erupting fire
installations in Sydney Harbour, to exclusive international music
performances and the stunning 3D illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails, Vivid Sydney will once again light up our city each night from 27 May – 13 June.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

All Of The (Neon) Lights

N.C. firm gives historic JFG sign illuminating overhaul

SignArt employee George 'G.A.' Albansoder punches holes in white paper to make a pattern that will be used to redraw and repaint letters on the JFG sign. The hole punches will help make a template so that employees can recreate the words 'Special Coffee' and 'The Best Part of the Meal.'

Pieces of the letters that make up the 'JFG' initials on Knoxville’s historic JFG sign are stacked at SignArt in Charlotte, N.C. The sign fabricator is refurbishing the sign before it returns to Knoxville.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The faded, rusty JFG sign that stood in South Knoxville's skyline for more than five decades is getting a functional and cosmetic overhaul at a Charlotte, N.C., sign company.

Light my fire: Neon Works keeps colorful tradition alive along with contemporary signage

EAST ALTON — There’s nothing like your name or your company logo on a neon sign. It’s the ultimate way to provide color, illumination and attract attention.

Although Chris Staar, president of Neon Works Inc. in East Alton, said custom neon is a dying art in some ways, it set the pace — and the bar — for contemporary signage, such as media and digital display systems, signs combining neon and vinyl, pylon signs and fluorescent backlit signs, which the company also produces. And it’s still a great way to advertise and see your name in lights.

A glowing testimony to the area turns 50

GuelphMercury - A glowing testimony to the area turns 50

KITCHENER — For 50 years, it has been a beacon to weary travellers journeying home from Toronto on Highway 401.

The original version of the huge neon Schneiders sign beside Highway 401 at Highway 6 was lit up on March 20, 1961.

It was built 16.7 metres above the road, on a steel structure standing more than 17 metres high and more than 24 meters long, It did not yet have the “Dutch Girl” picture who now smiles at travellers heading toward Kitchener.

The first sign just had the name of the Kitchener meat factory, “Schneiders” in huge red neon letters, and beneath it, “Famous For Quality Meats.” Below that, a comforting note: “Kitchener 12 miles,” with an arrow pointing homeward.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Let there be LEDs

Let there be LEDs - Art of the State - Arts&Culture - March 17, 2011 - Reno News & Review

Friday, March 11, 2011

installing nauman

Installing Nauman « Unframed The LACMA Blog

During the past few weeks the second floor of BCAM has been undergoing the installation of the exhibition Human Nature: Contemporary Art from the Collection, opening this Sunday (and on view now for members).

The exhibition takes its name from Bruce Nauman’s neon art piece Human Nature/Life Death/Know Doesn’t Know, which is included in the show. A major effort on the part of our conservators, art installers and electrician has made it possible to put this large neon puzzle back on view after a hiatus of about ten years. Here’s how they did it:

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Mesa's diving lady sign restoration underway

Mesa's diving lady sign restoration underway
Mesa's crumpled diving lady neon sign turned into a unique challenge for master neon sign makers, testing their skills as craftsmen while conjuring up memories of the late legendary neon artist Paul Millet.

"I've done seven restorations, and this is the most intricate one I've done," said Scott Houston, an associate of Millet protégé Larry Graham, who was hired by the Mesa Preservation Foundation to restore the iconic 50-year-old sign.