Ghost Signs: Art Preserves Art

Ghost signs, those large advertisements painted on the outside walls of buildings, are a part of history and of art.

Some communities, artists, and historical societies try to preserve this art form and the history the signs represent by restoring the signs. Others believe that their impermanence is what makes them special. These varied philosophies inspire artists as they interact with this form of commercial art.

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Digital Artists “Restore” Ghost Signs

One example is Craig Winslow. He uses modern digital art tools to temporarily showcase hand-painted advertisements. Winslow uses technology to cast light on the signs so that they appear newly painted. Of course, when the equipment is turned off, the signs go back to being fading ghosts.

Muralists Honor Ghost Sign History

Muralists and sign painters like Jeremy Russell and Scott Allred restore fading signs partway. Their techniques allow the signs to be read more easily, yet still look old and fading. It’s a way of restoration that honors the passing of time.

Other artists belong to companies that specialize in restoring historic ghost signs to their previous newness or in creating modern ghost signs. The approaches of these artists vary depending on their philosophy about ghost signs.

Photographers Record Ghost Signs

Researching ghost signs online indicates that there are many people who photograph ghost signs. Some of these photos are collected in official historical preservation efforts like the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. In my opinion, photographers are artists, so this counts as art recording art, even if the photography is done by hobbyists or historians.

Historic ghost signs may be from another era, but people will always have nostalgia for the past and an appreciation for hand-painted art. Some businesses commission hand-painted signs on their building’s walls and windows. If left to fade, these painted signs on walls would become ghost signs. In the meantime, artists use their various mediums to record and preserve the images and history of advertising with paint on walls.