LIGHT CAPSULES

Reviving a fading era with light.

A series of ghost sign projections shine a light on history, all around the world.

Visit our recently launched Light Capsules project site:

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In a world overflowing with new technologies, we tend to push ahead without looking back.

Light Capsules is a series of projection mapped light installations around the world that reanimate historical ghost signage and engage local communities around these fading artifacts.

Using projection for restoration is non-damaging, and non-invasive. It provides a strong preservation solution that traditional mediums can't provide. Using light as a medium, we can visually explore the stories of every layer, seeing how a building has changed throughout the years.

There’s an extra element of excitement in signs that are incredibly worn or have multiple layers. The best ghost sign candidates to become Light Capsules have multiple layers, also called palimpsests, providing a compelling canvas where digital recreations can bring a focus to a specific layer in time.

Each Light Capsule involves research into the history of the wall, exploring the story of the business, or the painter behind it. Dr. Ken Jones’ collection of more than 8,000 signs has proved a valuable inspiration and resource in discovery. Legendary sign painters like John Downer and Mike Meyer have provided insight into the methods and process of how these faded ads were created initially throughout history. 

You can read more about making the signs in an in-depth post on my work in Astoria, OR, or about the Adobe Creative Residency that initially brought this project to life in 2016.

We're working on the next step for Light Capsules involving an AR app, and opening the project up for others to contribute.

FEATURED ON 
The Atlantic — CityLab
Adobe Create #3
National Trust for Historic Preservation

FastCo Design
Adobe Create
 #1
Portland Monthly
KGW Portland Live Video
Adobe Create #2
It's Nice That
AIGA Eye on Design
British Council: LDF Top Pick
Creative Review
Working Not Working Blog
Neatorama

Rosco
BL.AG Magazine

Previous Light Capsules.

038 — Castaneda Hotel

4506, 541 Railroad Ave, Las Vegas, NM 
Workshop with students at NMHU

037 — La Taichert

1201 National Ave, Las Vegas, NM

036 — Hams & Bacon

524 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR

035 — Motel Domino

Ne10, Las Vegas, NV - 3/15/19

034 — Talbot & Casey

2230 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR

033 — Say It With Flowers

625 SE Salmon St, Portland, OR

032 — Sam Moy & Co.

801 N Russell St, Portland, OR

030 — Butte, MT

Babcock Hatters – 1899

028 — Terre Haute, IN

Created with Coca-Cola Consolidated

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018 — Dillen Rogers

StormBreaker Brewing, Portland, OR

017 — Jacobs & Gile

1244 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR

016 — Overland Cars

724 NW Davis St, Portland, OR

014 — Hotel Philip

10 NW 5th Ave, Portland, OR

013 — Detroit, MI + Miss Van

1301 Maple St, Detroit, MI 48207
Augmenting Miss Van's 2015 piece for Murals in the Market.

009 — Barlow & Roberts

33 Redcross Way, London UK

008 — Take Courage

19 Park St, London UK
Building constructed 1807, Courage Beer sign painted post-1955.

007 — Portland Co.

100 Fore St
Iconic sign of the Portland, ME waterfront, building set for potential demolition.

006 — Portland, ME

320 Fore St. Built in 1833
Survived the Great Fire of 1866. Williams Bros. Co. 1930

005 — Cincinnati, OH

118 East 9th Street
The last remaining sign of Chuck Keiger, Special thanks Ronny Salerno, and the American Sign Museum.

004 — Astoria, OR

904 Commercial St. Built 1924
Astoria Sign Co., Carl Laine & Sons Tailors, Nyman-Judge Inc. Buster Brown Shoes, Ahrens Grocery

003 — Portland, OR

1204 SE Water Ave
Jacobs & Gile Steel Jobbers.

002 — Joseph, OR

101 W McCully Ave
Shell Oil Company.

001 — Burlington, VT

47 Maple St. Built 1919
Public Service Paper Co.