tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436161190290695293.post2689545374729967486..comments2023-10-21T11:19:09.117+01:00Comments on Diary of a Bluestocking: save our ghostsigns....everyday frescoes of the people!Bluestockinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10570058219345374400noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436161190290695293.post-2672394034749224362010-04-25T22:10:54.516+01:002010-04-25T22:10:54.516+01:00In addition to the piece in the Guardian, the proj...In addition to the piece in the Guardian, the project was also on <a href="http://www.ghostsigns.co.uk/blog/oneshowtheguardian" rel="nofollow">the One Show</a>.Sam Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04220079734957549022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436161190290695293.post-84633111973356806442010-04-24T12:19:27.762+01:002010-04-24T12:19:27.762+01:00Thanks for your write up, it's a shame there a...Thanks for your write up, it's a shame there aren't more examples from Manchester in the archive so if you know any photographers and locations get in touch.Sam Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04220079734957549022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436161190290695293.post-87393453031614207942010-04-16T00:38:04.908+01:002010-04-16T00:38:04.908+01:00In North America, the presence of these signs seem...In North America, the presence of these signs seems to be largely a function of the local culture. It is common to see them in smaller cities (such as where I live) where they are often intentionally preserved and pointed to as part of the local heritage. In the nearest large city, San Jose (better known to most as Silicon Valley), they have typically been removed and replaced with new signs, which seems in keeping with the desire for the "newest, fastest, shiniest thing" that permeates technology centers. The same is true for Los Angeles. By contrast, San Francisco tends to balance the old with the new, and ghost signs are as common as new advertisements in some neighborhoods. In rural areas, it is typical to find ghost signs that have existed for between up to eight decades still adorning the sides of buildings, and they are simply accepted as part of the local landscape.<br /><br />By and large, most Californians seem to view these markers of our past with an acceptance at worst and an affection at best.Anthroslughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02047686739793030565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436161190290695293.post-15152732084549131282010-04-15T23:08:51.127+01:002010-04-15T23:08:51.127+01:00hi anthroslug,
good to hear from you & intere...hi anthroslug,<br /><br />good to hear from you & interesting to get an overseas perspective. ghost signs as you point out do perform a variety of functions - they multi-task as topographical landmarks, cultural signifiers, historical artefacts and decorate the cityscape too. in parts of continental europe, i expect i really mean france, they seem to survive intact and visually dominate the built environment. i have often wondered if this is a happy accident or because there is actively more affection for old pernod, dubonnet and citroen garage signs combined with a concern to preserve a distinctly 'french' atmosphere and culture generally. its a complicated issue. cities by their nature evolve and shed old skins and i dont want to see them pickled in aspic in one 'official' narrative but in british cities at the moment the pace of redevelopment seems only to increase leaving no patina or carbuncles to ponder and wonder over. no archaeological traces to relish...Bluestockinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10570058219345374400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436161190290695293.post-35788148216480863922010-04-15T18:12:38.512+01:002010-04-15T18:12:38.512+01:00I live in California and routinely travel across t...I live in California and routinely travel across the state for work. These "ghost signs" can be found on every back ground and many of the main streets of the state. For those of us who spend our time wandering the state, they are valuable both as landmarks and as artowkr that makes hours of monotonous driving a bit more bearable.<br /><br />One thing that happens here, though, is that property owners often (if not typically) see these signs as a valuable commodity marking their business out from the crowd, and will incorporate them into their designs when they refurbish buildings. This, of course, changes their context and their meaning, but then again, so does leaving them standing when the goods or services that they advertise have long gone.Anthroslughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02047686739793030565noreply@blogger.com