‘That Type Show’ brings artistic aspect of signage to Mt. Lebanon
“Q” by Ron Copeland
“Teach Consent” (detail), mixed media on canvas by Steph Neary
Display by Will Van Zee
For anyone who thinks sign painting is a lost art, Ron Copeland begs to differ.
“There’s a new influx of people interested in quality techniques and quality materials,” the multidisciplinary Lawrenceville artist said. “So it has been a good time to be doing this, because there’s a whole new level of appreciation for it recently.”
He is curator for “That Type Show,” featuring an eclectic view of lettering, slogans, words, signage and design through a diverse group of artists, himself included. The exhibit runs through July 22 at the Artsmiths of Pittsburgh in Mt. Lebanon.
“The idea behind the show was to get a group of people together to try to pretty much hit every medium we could possibly hit,” Copeland explained.
Along with traditional hand-painted sign techniques, other media explored by the artists include silkscreen, photographic collages, stitching and knitting, and use of neon and other lighting.
“There is a handful of reclaimed materials,” Copeland said, “but the majority of it is created by the artists.”
The Canton, Ohio, native studied graphic design and worked in the printing industry, including sign making, before trying something new.
“I went a few different directions,” he recalled. “I actually was a professional skater for a little while, a Rollerblader, on ramps and sliding down railings and all that stuff.”
Having survived the venture, Copeland returned to the visual arts world by doing silkscreen at a print shop.
“Silk screening kind of led me into finer arts and creating exhibits, and then it kind of all came back around to signage again a couple of years later,” he said. “A lot of my work has now shifted into mural projects and signage for businesses in town and out of town. I do quite a bit of lighting, too.”
Signage helps spur his artistic pursuits, as well: “I drive around and photograph everything, and then use that as inspiration for the things that I create.”
Pittsburgh artist Danny Devine took a similar approach for “That Type Show,” taking photos of scenes from the area and producing collages.
From outside of the area, Will Van Zee of Brooklyn, N.Y., is sharing his artistry in sign painting.
“He had a location he was using as a gallery a few years ago, and he invited me out to have a show,” Copeland said. “And I kind of returned the favor and invited him to be involved in this one.”
Another sign painter represented in the exhibit is Cameron Clayton, whose work graced the popular Quiet Storm vegetarian café in the East End before it closed, and now can be found at such venues as the Round Corner Cantina in Lawrenceville
Among the other “That Type Show” artists, Meg Prall and Steph Neary have contributed fabric pieces, and Lizzee Solomon, laser-cut graphics text pieces. Dana Depew’s neon lighting work is represented, and fellow Ohioan Scot Phillips offers work inspired by lettering on railroad cars.
Copeland has worked closely with the Artsmiths’ core of owner Kate McGrady and creative director and co-founder Kate Wagle Hitmar to further their mission of providing a South Hills-based center for the arts.
“We wanted to do something that would be a hip show for the city,” he said, “but bring it to a whole new market that doesn’t see an exhibit like this often.”
Visit www.artsmithspgh.com.