Vernacular Typography
Big chains with their standardized, generic, cheap plastic and vinyl signs have taken over the landscape, and our unique sense of place quickly fading. Local signs, aka vernacular typography, give a person a sense of the regional identity and heritage. It forms the local dialect or visual language of the region.
Often hand-lettered or hand-crafted (like neon), it imprints onto your brain the memory of the time and place. While most commercial vernacular typography is quickly fading from the landscape, there are glimmers of hope with the resurgence of mural art.
Yeah, I am a design geek.
Jackrabbit Trading Post Joseph City, Arizona 2011
The Georgian Hotel Santa Monica, California 2019
Sea Castle Santa Monica, California 2019
Sims Pottery Gillsville, Georgia 2017
Indian Motorcycle Fairmount, Indiana 2013
Dial 4-9920 Gorham, Kansas 2022
Ballot at the Garden of Eden Lucas, Kansas 2011
Porbursky's Topeka, Kansas 2013
Lucille's Cafe Williamsburg, Kansas 2020
Grain Silo Williamsburg, Kansas 2020
Somer Hardware Wilson, Kansas 2022
Sunflower Coal Wilson, Kansas 2013
Charlie's Morse, Louisiana 2010
Thanks (St Jude's Grotto) New Orleans, Louisiana 2013
Stockyards District Kansas City, Missouri 2012
Arthur Bryant's Barbecue Kansas City, Missouri 2012
Busy Bee Cafe Kansas City, Missouri 2012
Queen City Sedalia, Missouri 2016
Cabins Lodgepole, Nebraska 2021
Kimo Theater Albuquerque, New Mexico 2011
Gallup Train Station Gallup, New Mexico 2019
Lamy Train Station Lamy, New Mexico 2019
Refrigerated Air Wagoner, Oklahoma 2021
Danger Monkey Flagstaff, Arizona 2011
Ice Cream Ash Fork, Arizona 2011
Buttersworth's Petersburg, Virginia 2012
Rodeo Capital of the World Cody, Wyoming 2019
Sacajawea Cemetery Fort Washakie, Wyoming 2017
Motel Moorcraft, Wyoming 2019
Nora's Fish Creek Inn Wilson, Wyoming 2021
Phillips General Store Bell Buckle, Tennessee 2017
Screen Door Bell Buckle, Tennessee 2017
Blue & White Tunica, Mississippi 2013
The Hollywood Tunica, Mississippi 2013
Dockery Farms Cleveland, Mississippi 2012
Live Blues Clarksdale, Mississippi 2012
Delta Donut Clarksdale, Mississippi 2013
Abe's Bar-B-Q Clarksdale, Mississippi 2013
Miss Del's Clarksdale, Mississippi 2013
