The Sign Painter Movie

 

 

Typography may have recently been relegated to computers, but it was once the terrain of skilled artists. Our own city of Portland is lucky to be the host this year of the Society of Typographic Aficionados annual five day conference celebrating all that is unique and beautiful about type. In conjunction with their workshops and other events, AIGA will be screening “Sign Painters,” a documentary by filmmakers Faythe Levine and Sam Macon. As recently as the 1980’s, storefronts and street signs were all hand lettered with brush and paint. As die cut vinyl lettering and inkjet printing has ushered a creeping sameness into the landscape, there is a growing trend to seek out the traditional practitioners and a renaissance in the trade. This film follows the stories of just some of these artists, young and old, working throughout the country. With a forward by legendary artist (and former sign painter) Ed Ruscha, it is an informative and elegant reminder of a forgotten craft. There will a host of sign painter demo's put on by some of Portland's most talented craftsmen. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.