Ghostly Reminders

There is so much we miss when we drive in a car. Yes, we need to get from point A to point B. Sometimes it’s important to get out at either end to investigate. There are always new discoveries to be made.

A recent exploration of mine happened while I was walking through downtown Baltimore snapping photos of sites of interest (Inner Harbor, etc.) and architecture. I noticed many painted images on the sides of old buildings, which are ghostly reminders of the past.

These old, faded, peeling painted signs are referred to by many as "ghost signs".  It can be challenging to decipher their text, but that makes it that much more interesting. Yes, it’s cool to see a ghostly sign from years ago that reminds a person of a store that is no longer in business or a product no longer being made.

This form of advertising was very popular during my grandparents’ and parents’ day. I can also remember a few businesses installing painted signs when I was a child, although it was rare, but fun to watch being designed. If there was an empty wall available it was painted on and if it was a prime location (near a market or shopping center), a business owner was eager to use it to advertise.

Today, these signs are seen as visual art. Many have been preserved because lead-based paints were used, which also helped to protect the advertisement from the elements. It’s also cool to see several being repainted in an attempt to preserve the past, a bit of nostalgia for our parents and their children, too.

These ghostly signs in their own way have become cool, hip, and comforting.  Yet, the main purpose was simply advertising. Yes, these signs were created all in the name of supporting a business. Now they are works of arts. They are not like the great works created by Leonardo da Vinci or Vermeer. However, they cry out for attention and deserve it never the less.

I recently learned sign painters (better known to some as "wall dogs") were skilled artists. They concentrated their work for small businesses in small towns. They traveled from town-to-town, painting their way for profit and survival.

The next time you are out and about, keep your eyes open for those cool looking, faded reminders of the past. Allow yourself to remember, reflect and appreciate. They truly are remarkable in every since of the word. Nostalgia lives. Enjoy!  – paerki