Ghostsigns

RIP: Pressman's Army & Navy Store

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:20:00 +0000

Photo: carljohnson

The Hoxsie blog reports the loss of this great sign from Troy, New York. This photo from carljohnson in particular adds a lot of character to the sign which still remains in part following structural work to the building. An 'after' photo is available here.

See more 'RIPs' from this blog.

The Devil is in the Detail: Emmanuel Nouaillier Masterclass

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:22:00 +0000

Emmanuel Nouaillier is a French artist I admire for his attention to detail and his focus on Ghostsigns as subject matter. Below are some of his tools of the trade and a detailed exposition of his techniques can be found on this website. Absolutely fascinating as ever...

On Air: Colossal Media Radio Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:35:00 +0000

Following Frank's more recent appearance I came across this radio interview with Colossal Media which I missed in February last year. The slideshow above accompanies the full story and audio download on the WNYC website. More posts from the Ghostsigns blog about Colossal Media here, it's great to see them going from strength to strength.

Belgravia Ghostsign Restored

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:22:00 +0000

After (Photo: Belgravia Resident's Association)

Before (2006/7)

News in this week is that a restoration effort has been undertaken in the heart of London's Belgravia. It has been directed at what was once a very faded sign for a horse infirmary (see two more of my pictures from c.2006/7 below). It was instigated by Belgravia Garage, as the infirmary sign represented the origins of their current business. As a result they wrote it up in their magazine (click image to read the text and see a clearer photo of the restored sign):

It is interesting to see this sign added to the various examples of restoration work across the country, especially quite soon after my post about the issues surrounding the repainting of ghostsigns. Perhaps what is most remarkable about this one is the location, one of London's most expensive residential areas. Coincidentally it is very close to the home of the IPA where the launch event for the Ghostsigns Archive took place.

Once again, this appears to be symbolic of the increased esteem in which ghostsigns held. I once commented that the best way to protect the signs is not through legal means but by convincing property owners of their worth. If the owners of property in Belgravia are starting to recognise this value then perhaps this is a sign of things to come...

Hemingway's Ales (RIP)

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:09:00 +0000

Photo: Ackers- Schoolboy Hero!!!!

This wonderful gable end sign for Hemingway's Ales (Big Ben's brand) ceased to exist as of 9th March 2011. It was a truly remarkable ghostsign and featured as the backdrop for my interview with John Seargent in the piece broadcast on the One Show. Incidentally I notice that it isn't currently featured in the archive so it would be great if anyone with a pre-demolition photo could add it via the History of Advertising Trust.

This photo shows the location before and after the clearance operation.

Photo: Wiggysan...

And this one from behind shows the remains of the terrace as the bulldozer makes its way towards the sign.

Photo: Wiggysan...

Frank Jump on the Leonard Lopate Show (@FadingAd)

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:51:00 +0000

Fading Ads Of New York City by Wnyc, New York Public Radio Listen on Posterous

15 minute interview discussing the 'Fading Ads of New York City' book. Accompanying slideshow here.

Stoke Newington Ghostsigns: History Pin Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:51:00 +0000

After discovering the 'Ghost Signs of Louisville' Tour on History Pin I couldn't resist having a go myself. The preliminary result is my first tour, 'Stoke Newington Ghostsigns'. I reckon the walk would take a couple of hours depending on how long you stop to photograph the 18 featured signs and former locations of signs. More to follow perhaps, see some other tours and trails via the links in the side panels of this site.

Ghost Signs of Louisville

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:26:00 +0000

Following last week's post about Phil Baines' London lettering tour I came across this 'Ghost Signs of Louisville' tour. It has been created by the University of Louisville Photographic Archive (in particular their Ghostsigns collection) using History Pin. I'm keeping a list of all the tours and trails I discover and these are listed in the links in the side panels of this site so check there for details of more. I'm also investigating the possibility of using History Pin as a way of achieving the mapping objective for the project so I'll post more about that when I have news.

The Signpainter Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Photo: Butera School of Art, sign department catalog, year and photographer unknown

Over the last couple of years I've been following developments at the Signpainter Movie project in the USA. It is an independently produced film that will chart the history and work of America's remaining craftsmen (due for release next year). They have been diligently cataloguing their primary research interviews on their blog as they've journeyed across the country in search of the fascinating stories that often accompany the signpainter and his work. These encounters have included meeting myriad signpainters such as Keith Knecht, the team at Colossal Media, a visit to the American Sign Museum, and time to stop and study some of the articles and books on the subject (including this one).

News via email today is twofold. First is that they have completed their filming and are now entering the edit for the final film. Second is that there will be a book to accompany the release of the film.

I think that the project is a fantastic idea and I can't wait to see the end results which will document the collective knowledge and experience of signpainters in the states. They will also hopefully help to raise the profile of this enduring craft, which I hope can continue to survive for years to come.

Look out for news of the film's release some time next year and, in the meantime, you can keep up with the project via the blog, their Facebook page and their Twitter stream. You can also support the film's funding by buying one of their recently released t-shirts which encourage us all to 'support your local signpainter'.

Peter Hardwicke and Tracy Emin International

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:53:00 +0000

Videos of Peter Hardwicke painting the letters 'N' and 'A' from the Tracy Emin International shop in Spitalfields, London. Steady hand!

Public Lettering in Central London: Phil Baines' Walking Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:43:00 +0000

Photo: Jennifer Pedler / HAT

This well know Kings Cross palimpsest features in Phil Baines' updated walking tour of public lettering in London (thanks to Geraldine Marshall for the link on the Facebook page). He's now created this as a 'Map Tale' which can be viewed below or in full screen here.

This adds to a handful of other Ghostsigns cameos in tours and trails, as discussed previously on this blog:

Peterkin in the Battersea Heritage Trail (also links to various other signs that featured in the 2010 Design Detail Trail, part of the London Festival of Architecture)
Various Stoke Newington signs in Jo Tomkins' folding map
Angel Walks (no longer available due to the death of Peter Powell who led them)
In the USA, Fort Collins celebrates their Ghostsigns heritage with a self-guided tour.
Type Tours (I think the 'East' one may feature ghostsigns)

If anyone knows of any more like these then please get in touch.

Phil Baines' Map Tale: 'Public Lettering in Central London'

Book News: Liverpool Ghostsigns

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:05:00 +0000

Caroline & Phil Bunford have just released this preview of the cover of their forthcoming book Liverpool Ghostsigns. If you look very closely you'll notice in the lower portion that the foreword is written by me, so I'm doubly excited about the publication of the first UK Ghostsigns book. Pre-order it here and look out for it in shops in July next year.

(More Ghostsigns books can be found in the reading list and a review of Frank Jump's recent release, also with a section written by me, here.)

Talking Walls

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:31:00 +0000

Painted Letters by Adam Bletchly

I almost forgot about this project (spotted by Caroline) which involved six lines of a poem being hand painted onto walls around Deptford. Inspired to an extent by Ghostsigns, it is an attempt "to commemorate and preserve the dying industry of hand rendered sign writing, presently drowning amongst corporate messaging". Each piece has a photo, location map and short timelapse video of the work in progress.

Visit the Talking Walls website for more information and the next three lines of the poem sometime in the future...

Signs of Cambodia

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:20:00 +0000

Hi-Fis and TV-Video combos on the outskirts of Ban Lung

Over a year since I first wrote about hand painted signs in Cambodia I thought it was time for a brief update. First are some examples from my travels around the country, followed by some other pieces of signage that amused me in one way or another.

First to Kep, a nice use of the available space and a charming if erratic script in red.

Much more simplistic, I'm not sure what the '2' above the 'O' is for.

An attempt at illustration and an oddly placed exclamation mark.

Low literacy levels mean that signs frequently feature very explicit illustrations of the product or service offered. This one is from Takeo.

Rough and ready, all I can tell you is that the price is 1,500 riel, which is about $0.40 / 30p.

A very polished effort from Battambang.

Both sides of these street signs can be used to showcase different services. First is gagging.

Next is jabbing the eyebrow with a spiked instrument. These two from Battambang.

Another shop front in Battambang.

Close-ups of the very latest technology available inside.

Cassette players on the outskirts of Battambang.

Check out the crease ironed into those trousers!

A very cool trail bike illustration.

The now fading welcome sign at the lake in Ratanakiri.

Pagodas across the country have wall paintings depicting a hell-like scene. This one at Sambok Mountain in Kratie province features this interesting component which may not be everyone's idea of hell...

A modern painted sign in Phnom Penh, spotted on the way to TEDxPhnomPenh.

Found in Siem Reap, advertising a foot-bath filled with tiny fish who eat all your dead skin. Perhaps not the most hygienic thing in the world, but certainly funny and happy.

Back to Kep and what better double act of services could you hope for, get you hair cut while you scooter is cleaned.

From Battambang. I've no idea what it means.

Don't wash your hands in the urinal in Siem Reap.

Don't squat on the toilet. (NB. To be serious for a moment, sanitation is a major health issue in Cambodia where the majority of people do not have access to quality toilet facilities. These signs are at Angkor Wat which is free for Cambodian citizens, many of whom have not encountered a 'western' sitting toilet or systems based on running water technology.)

Very explicit location information for the showers at a swimming pool in Battambang.

And in Takeo, a reminder that tobacco advertising is far from banned in Cambodia. Value your pleasure with a D&J, or should that be DJ?

Ghostsigns in The Biochemist

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:48:00 +0000

Press coverage for the project sometimes throws up surprises and I was delighted to see that the October 2011 edition of The Biochemist labelled my site as among the 'Best of the Web'. Katy's photo once again caught the editor's eyes in this very nice write up. Thank you to Executive Editor Mark Burgess at the Biochemical Society for his kind permission to republish this piece which can be viewed full screen by clicking on the image above or downloaded in its original form as a pdf here.

Ghostsigns Research from Laura Carletti Scoops Award

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to Laura Carletti who took home an award for her presentation of the most recent paper on the Ghostsigns Project at the Digital Engagement conference in Newcastle. The paper is available for download here and below, with the following note regarding copyright:

"Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee."

- Digital Engagement ‘11, November 15 – 17, 2011, Newcastle, UK.

Laura Carletti Abstract

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:13:00 +0000

Following the recent survey which is part of a larger research project, Laura Carletti has kindly given permission to publish the abstract of a paper she presented to the Digital Resources in the Humanities and Arts conference held back in September. The full title is:

"Enhancement of niche cultural and social resources through crowd-contribution: the creation of the Ghostsigns online archive."

You can download it here and more work in this area will hopefully follow as Laura progresses with her research.

Fading Ads of New York City

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:19:00 +0000

The eagerly awaited release of Frank Jump's 'Fading Ads of New York City' book is almost upon us. I was fortunate enough to be offered a sneak preview by Frank himself so here are some reflections on the book to whet your appetite and hopefully encourage you to get a copy as soon as it’s published in the UK and the USA.

First and foremost is the quality of photography and the specimens that Frank has captured in his daring escapades around New York. 72 examples are beautifully documented which, although representing just a fraction of his collection, offer up some of the best examples to be found in this city of signs. Two of my favourites are his first ever photograph, the four-storey Omega Oil, and the colourfully illustrated sign for M. Rappoport’s Music Store. The selection is diverse, providing excellent examples of many components of the painted form: scale; lettering; illustration; characters; slogans.

Omega Oil by Frank Jump

Accompanying each sign in the book is a well researched account of the history of the company advertised. This is then set within the context of the wider industry and its connection to New York. In this sense, the book is an historical account of the commercial history of the city and the districts within it. There are parallels to Ben Passikoff’s ‘The Writing on the Wall’, although Frank uses individual signs as his springboard into the wider historical context.

Perhaps the most striking difference between Frank’s book and others in the growing catalogue of Ghostsigns titles is the personal dimension that he brings to his work. The connections between his documentation of New York’s Fading Ads and his fight against HIV/AIDS are inescapable. He uses the unintended survival of the signs as a metaphor for his own survival against the odds, and is very candid in his account of his own story. In this respect, the book is part history, part autobiography, and I learned about more than just Ghostsigns from reading it.

Adding another layer of depth to the book are a series of written pieces by various figures including historians, academics, and fellow Fading Ad enthusiasts. There are nine in total including an introduction from Ghostsigns pioneer William Stage (author of the original 'Ghost Signs' book) and an extended essay considering the meaning of these signs in terms of time and place from Dr Andrew Irving of the University of Manchester. It is clear from these accompanying texts that Frank’s life and work has touched many people in a positive way. In fact, my own account of the encouragement he offered me in the early stages of my interest in hand painted advertising is one such contribution. (To what extent it adds any depth you can judge for yourself by downloading here...)

This book is a fantastic addition to the published material available on the topic and I learned a lot from it. I hope that the publishers will commission a sequel so that even more of Frank’s photography can find its way onto the printed page. In fact, it looks like it might be the first in a series of titles based on this recent announcement from Lawrence O'Toole.

[The book is available to buy on Amazon USA here, and will hopefully be available soon from Amazon UK here.]

Love Local Landmarks and the Hackney Society

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 07:10:00 +0000

To protect or not to protect?

As I've discussed before, my interest in Ghostsigns started in my home borough of Hackney in London. The concentration of specimens in Stoke Newington intrigued me and I had to learn more about them. I was soon finding and photographing great examples not only in Hackney but across the capital and occasionally further afield.

My flirtation with efforts to protect Ghostsigns in some legal sense only lasted briefly and I reflected on my change in outlook around the time the archive launched. (I more recently wrote about efforts to repaint signs as a form of preservation.)

However, unbeknown to me, a handful of signs have been added to a proposed list for local listings in Hackney. The project is called 'Love Local Landmarks' and is being run by the Hackney Society in response to a small grant from English Heritage. I was a approached by one of the team for information about the triple palimpsest at the top of this post and so I asked which others, in addition to this, were being put forward for consideration.

There is currently a list of six locations, shown below, but I believe there are many fantastic examples missing, even further below. What signs would you add? I've tried to limit my additions to those which are more or less preserved in a complete state and/or which appear to have some historical significance. It is probably too late to be included in this round of the project but the Love Local Landmarks initiative will be an interesting test case to see if support for Ghostsign preservation is forthcoming from English Heritage.

Proposed: the one that started it all for me.

Proposed: The closest friend of the Fount Pens sign

Proposed: The one time post office

Proposed: Apparently they film Dragon's Den in this building...

Proposed: The impressive Blooms Pianos

And now for some that I would nominate if I was doing this project...

Not proposed: More pianos, this time from Boyd on Shacklewell Lane

Not proposed: In hiding on Cazenove Road, Stoke Newington

Not proposed: John Brown's neighbour on the other side of Cazenove Road

Not proposed: Still in Stoke Newington, this one on Northwold Road, Clapton end

Not proposed: The other end of Northwold Road is the place for all your tradesman requirements

Not proposed: Back on Stoke Newington Church Street, never forget your Purse King!

Not proposed: Cakebread Robey off Stoke Newington High Street and one of the best palimpsests around

Not proposed: Over on Mare Street, not sure why but this one always made me think of Only Fools & Horses

Not proposed: Would need to check if this part of Shepperton Road is Hackney or Islington (N1 postcode) but if it's Hackney then it's a must [Photo: Jane's London]

Not proposed: Very tough to photograph this one on John Campbell Road [Photo: Fin Fahey]

Not proposed: Recently revealed on Stoke Newington Church Street, maybe not complete but very well preserved and with some beautiful lettering.

So, that's it. Six in, and eleven that I would add. I'll update once the project is complete and the website is launched.

Painted Ad Site

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:35:00 +0000

Wm Stage is back and this time he is taking his work online with the launch of his new Painted Ad website/blog. For those unfamiliar with Stage's work then you should read a bit about his latest book, and also know that he authored the single most comprehensive volume about hand painted wall advertising back in 1989. All in all he is a founding father of the current vogue for Ghostsigns and his site already delivers some fascinating new content, including the work of watercolour artist Dana Forrester* and a beautifully illustrated sign said to date from 1895.

More is yet to come so keep an eye on this new blog and make sure you get a hold of the latest book from this Stateside Ghostsigns legend (see tear sheet attached here).

*Dana's website available here.

Signpainters Don't Read Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:43:00 +0000

Signpainters Don't Read Signs by Syl Ehr

Via their Facebook page, The Sign Painter Movie project alerted me to this rare, out of print book by Syl Ehr. Signpainters Don't Read Signs is a great read and recounts umpteen anecdotes from Syl's life as a jobbing signpainter in the USA (signwriter to those in the UK). These include incidents directly relating to his work, and those observed from afar given his presence on the street. It also contains some mini-tutorials for budding signpainters and notes on the diversity of characters involved in the trade, including the 'wall dogs' whose only work were the large scale signs painted on walls.

Perhaps most peculiar section in the book is chapter 16 where readers are offered a critique of the Roman alphabet from the point of view of both a signpainter and a type setter (the book was published in 1957). This critique extends to the proposing of a new set of letter forms (both upper and lower case) giving greater balance and stability to the alphabet and the words that are made from it. This proposal is described as a 'sweeping progressive action' and named as 'New Era Roman'. To date it clearly hasn't taken off but you have to admire his endeavour in attempting to change forms which have been around for many centuries.

Sadly the book is very difficult to come by and I was lucky to find one on Amazon marketplace after a few attempts. Check here and do pick up a copy. Entertaining, educational and a very easy read.

For more books check the reading list.

For the start of something similar in the UK, check Chris' site.

49 New Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:56:00 +0000

Since handing over day-to-day responsibility for the archive to the History of Advertising Trust there has been a steady influx of new material. 49 new signs have been uploaded to the online galleries and this means that c.750 are now documented through the collective efforts of photographers across the country. I've listed the codes for each of the new additions at the end of this post and here, in no particular order, are ten of my favourites. (Click on the photos to be taken to their page in the archive and, in some cases, background information.)

Photo: James Deans

Photo: Caroline Bunford

Photo: Caroline Bunford

Photo: Caroline Bunford
[This sign is among a number for Twinings, featuring the Little Miss Barber character.]

Photo: James Deans

Photo: Frances King

Photo: Richard Slater
[This adds to a couple of other signs for Puck Matches.]

Photo: Mark Fielding

Photo: Ash Humby
[One of many Bovril signs. There is interest in restoring this sign so if anyone can assist in this process please email sam@ghostsigns.co.uk.]

Photo: James Deans

The following codes represent all 49 new additions. To view any one of these simply search for the code in the online galleries: GA00207; GA00793; GA00808; GA00809; GA00810; GA00811; GA00812; GA00813; GA00814; GA00815; GA00816; GA00817; GA00818; GA00819; GA00820; GA00821; GA00822; GA00823; GA00824; GA00824; GA00827; GA00829; GA00832; GA00833; GA00834; GA00836; GA00837; GA00838; GA00839; GA00840; GA00842; GA00843; GA00845; GA00848; GA00850; GA00852; GA00856; GA00859; GA00860; GA00860; GA00862; GA00864; GA00865; GA00866; GA00869; GA00870; GA00873; GA00874; GA00876.

Ghostsigns World Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:44:00 +0000

Perhaps being in Cambodia has sensitised me to the world of Ghostsigns beyond my home shores. Or maybe awareness of the project has encouraged those from around the world to make contact. Whatever it is, I thought it was time for a round-up of what's landed in my inbox and surfaced on my internet radar over the last few months. These are further examples of support for the Ghostsigns Worldwide idea which is still bubbling away at the back of my mind looking for a technical solution...

Back to the tour, don't miss the boat as we set off on a journey that will pass through India, New York, France, Canada and the Hague, first stop Delhi.

This video is from a fantastic project called HandPaintedType which is hunting down experienced signwriters in India to profile their work and involve them by creating computer fonts from their painted lettering. One of these fonts is available as a free download (see example below), encouraging others to be bought to support the project. It is a great idea and unites the old with the new in a novel and surprising way. I'll soon be featuring an interview with the project curator on this blog so stay on board and do visit the site for some very colourful photography of signs across the sub-continent.

Font by Umesh

Next we head to Europe and France, home of a great tradition of hand painted advertising. The blog of Anne Francoise Tixier has recently posted fliers for two exhibitions in the centre of the country. One features her own photography and the other showcases the work of Marc Combier, photographer in two of the three beautiful books from this country. I've tried to obtain more information but to no avail so if anyone has anything to add, or is even able to visit and get some pictures, I'd be hugely grateful...email as always is sam@ghostsigns.co.uk

From France it's across the Atlantic to New York City where news of another Ghostsigns book has emerged. In the early days of my interest in the subject I was inspired and informed by the work of Frank Jump and have maintained regular communication with him since 2006. It is fantastic to find out that he has been commissioned to pull together a book featuring some of his best photos. I'm doubly proud to have been invited to contribute a short piece to the publication which will add to the existing titles from the USA. More news will of course follow here but for now you can learn more about Frank's background and interest in what he refers to as Fading Ads. As a sample, here is his Omega Oil sign, something of a flagship for his project. Check out the scale, four stories high, fantastic!

Photo: Frank Jump

Heading back to Europe we find ourselves in the Netherlands and their third city, The Hague, where a fascinating project has been gradually restoring Ghostsigns to their former glory (something also being in the UK: here). The project has been running since 2005 and details of the signs restored are documented with images and accompanying text (in Dutch, although it's possible to partially translate by cutting and pasting into Google Translate). Here are the painters at work on this sign. I'm soon to receive some more information about this project so more will follow on this blog in the future.

While in the Netherlands, here are a couple of photos from my 2007 trip to Amsterdam which I haven't shared before...

Fiat (clearly covered while the wall around has been vigorously cleaned)

Van Gogh does street art, or street art does Van Gogh?

Back across the Atlantic to Canada, and Montreal, home of this fantastic sign (below) for Turret Cigarettes, recently revealed afer a fire required the adjacent building to be demolished. Current regulations in parts of the city ban billboards, and signs put up before the ban are expected to comply. However, those with historical significance can gain exemptions. The fate of this and many others hangs in the balance. This news story brings more details and has a link to this collection of photos from the city.

Photo: John Fink

From Canada it's South to New York, and our final stop, where Colossal Media continue to impress with their large scale work for yet another alcohol brand, this time Amstel. In the USA everything is bigger, how many stories on this one...

That's the end of our tour, I hope you enjoyed it. Please share anything you find from around the world via the Facebook Group or using the #ghostsigns tag on Twitter. Bon voyage!

Ghostsigns Survey

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:07:00 +0000

[THIS SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED, see the results here]

Just over a year ago we launched the History of Advertising Trust Ghostsigns Archive. From start to finish the project took exactly one year and this was made possible largely due to the use of online tools such as Flickr, Youtube and Facebook. I always meant to write about my reflections on this process, what worked well and what I would change if I were starting the project again. However, time limitations and my move to Cambodia have resulted in this never being done. My planned talk at cilip also never came to fruition for similar reasons.

Luckily this strand of work has recently been reignited by Laura Carletti, a PhD student from Ancona in Italy. Her research at the Università Politecnica delle Marche and the University of Nottingham is investigating the use of online and social media tools in the creation and sharing of knowledge and learning. This is of interest to me on two counts, my own professional experience in learning and development, and because she has selected the Ghostsigns Project as one of two case studies within her doctoral research. Laura will also be presenting a paper on the Ghostsigns Project at a conference in China in September.

Laura and I have been collaborating for the last few months through her interviewing me about the project and analysing some of the data from the online platforms such as the Facebook page and this website/blog. In order to supplement this with some more wide-ranging research we have devised a survey to ask those with an interest in the project for their views. This captures some basic demographic information but then seeks to understand more about how people are using online and social media tools and the ways they have interacted with the project.

We would be very grateful if you would take the time (15-20 minutes) to answer the questions and assist with both Laura's PhD and my own understanding of the project and those connected to it. The survey is available here and the deadline for completion is Sunday, 31st July. Once we have collected the data I will prepare and publish a short report based on its analysis and Laura will incorporate the results into her PhD thesis. I think it will be fascinating to see what comes back and the more people that respond the better the results will be. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch.

If you are more generally interested in the topic of how online and social media tools are being used for other archiving and research projects then I'd recommend having a look at the work being done by Horizon and the recent Growing Knowledge exhibition at the British Library.

Thank you in advance.

Adzookie

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Roberts) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:18:00 +0000

Paint your house, pay your mortgage...

The History of Advertising Trust Twitter stream recently brought this initiative to my attention from mobile advertising firm Adzookie. Essentially they will pay your mortgage if you agree to have this garish design slapped onto the external walls of your home. However, in the current downturn, and with people struggling to avoid repossessions, they may have hit upon the Brickad solution for our times. As they say on their site:

"If you're prepared for the bright colors and stares from neighbors just complete the submission form below."

Any takers?