Marcas Gallery has invited 20 professional Sign Painters to celebrate and educate the public about the art form and historical significance of Sign Painting. The show will feature a general showcase of the artists’ work that they are most commonly known for as well as hosted seminars and workshops from a selection of participating artists - Patrick G. Smith, Roderick Treece and Brady Martinson. The gallery will also convert a small portion of the gallery to a functional Sign Shop. Artists will work in residency the entire month so the public can witness the daily work of a professional Sign Painter.

Marcas Contemporary Director Dana Jazayeri elaborates on the importance of the show, 'This show is more than just about spotlighting the artwork. It is about spotlighting the lives of artisans. Individuals that have dedicated a lifetime to producing commercial signage for businesses and the public. These artisans nearly lost their livelihood. The show is to celebrate a craft and old aesthetics that we have forgotten about but it surrounds our daily environment.'

Sign Painting has a history rich with artistic and commercial influences in the United States and around the world. Advertising everything from Baby Products to the Latest Fad, Signs were the number one way to communicate public messages of commerce and safety. Before digital technology, 70% of all commercial signage and advertisement was hand painted and the other 30% was still created by hand some way. There were moments in history where advertisement firms employed over 500 people to hand painted showcards, menus, billboards and other commercial needs. And since the 80’s as society embraced technology Sign Painting had become sort of an endangered species. Ultimately computers, technology and the wavering market have made many hand made crafts disappear and sign painting for a few decades seemed to be staggering off in that direction. 

Luckily, Southern California was able to support the disappearing market. Unknown to most since the opening of Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm parks, to this day have employed a whole department of Sign Painters who execute the creation of informational signage, window displays, showcards and even painting amusement ride scenery and characters. Southern California also has the only Sign Graphic classes in America at Los Angeles Trade Tech that teaches traditional hand painting techniques. To this day the area has the densest amount of Sign Painters working professionally in the United States.

Today, there is a new generation of Sign painters coming into the fold, although many have come through non-traditional paths. Traditionally, sign painters have come to be professionals in their trade by first being an apprentice, then becoming a journeyman, then coming full circle to a Master Sign Painter that would take on apprentices and hire other upstart sign painters. This new generation of Sign Painters applies technology to the historical techniques of Sign Painting reinventing a new contemporary approach to the art form.

Marcas Gallery’s show bridges the generation gap through bringing to light the knowledge and traditions held by the masters of the trade and exploring the new generations interest to carry the torch into the future. Ultimately, attendees will start to see different elements in their public space and will question the authenticity of commercial advertisement that is not hand painting.