Banners + Awnings

Best Murals/Banners/Exhibit Graphics of 2014

Diverse methods reflect signage possibilities

Published

10 years ago

April 1, 2014

Steve Aust Signs of the Times April 2014 Issue

FIRST PLACE

Fabricators
Sonny Franks
Sign Creations
Lilburn, GA
(770) 923-9933
www.signcreations.net

Chris Shuster
Sharpsburg, KY
(859) 808-6012

Designer
Sonny Franks

Client
City of Lilburn

I often marvel at how, in this age of rapid technological advancement, an interest in handcrafted projects has also arisen – cities’ investment in traditional, handpainted murals provides a prime example. Inspired by legendary muralist Eric Grohe, this trompe l’oeil design adorns a building in Lilburn’s historic downtown. Franks and Shuster are avid Walldogs, a “family” of muralists and signpainters who convene every summer to leave a legacy of mural art in a selected city. Franks designed the artwork in Adobe Photoshop software, and the duo painted the project with brushes, rollers, sponges and an airbrush.

SECOND PLACE

Fabricator
Ferrari Color
Salt Lake City
(801) 355-4124
www.ferraricolor.com

Designers
Struck Axiom
Salt Lake City
(801) 531-0122
www.struck.com

Jonnie Hartman Art & Design
Salt Lake City
Jonniehartmanart.blogspot.com

Installer
Jonnie Hartman

Client
Sun Valley Resort

Officials at the posh Sun Valley (ID) Ski Resort wanted to welcome its worldwide clientele with a global Christmas display that graphically depicted international holiday traditions. Struck Axiom, a multimedia advertising agency, developed the concept, and Hartman developed the exhibit layout. Ferrari Color printed the graphics on its Durst Rho 800 UV-cure-ink machine with 3A Composites’ 3mm-thick Sintra® composite material.

THIRD PLACE

Fabricators
Jay Allen
Robert Valadez
Shawcraft
Machesney Park, IL
(815) 282-4105
www.shawcraft.com

Nancy Bennett
Dannco
Centerville, IA
(641) 437-1415
www.dannco.com

Sherry Balaskovitz
Muskegon, MI
(231) 894-2787
www.artswhitelake.org

Designers
Jay Allen
Robert Valadez

Clients
Alcoa Howmet (Muskegon Soars)
Eagle Alloy (Muskegon Proud)

Muskegon, MI holds a proud tradition of manufacturing and industry, which two local manufacturers – Alcoa Howmet, a producer of airfoils used in commercial jet engines, and Eagle Alloy, which produces shell-molded steel and stainless-steel castings – conveyed in their roles as primary sponsors of murals that celebrate the “common man” and “common woman”, whose knowledge and drive fuel local industry. The quartet painted the murals on 3A Composites’ Dibond 3mm-thick, aluminum composite panels with Nova Color acrylic mural paints. All project participants are avid Walldogs.

HONORABLE MENTION

Fabricator
Bartush Signs
Orwigsburg, PA
(570) 366-2311
www.bartushsigns.com

Designer
A+ Signs
Old Forge, PA
(570) 947-2564
www.aplussigns.com

Client
Mandalay Baseball

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