Back in the early seventies I got together with a few guys from some other shops in the area for lunch a couple times a week. There were also the Saturday monthly gatherings of apprentices around the LA area for Isie Posner's gold leaf workshops. Then there were the Mike Stevens followers and the meetings and discussions we enjoyed. Then came Letterheads. All these events connected us with other sign folks in other areas and our circle of friends in the lettering and striping arena grew. So now, I'm feeling isolated again. No more of the letterhead meets around. Few sign friend visitors. Not much activity on these sites. Guess this is the next season.
Posted by Gerald Barlow (Member # 3477) on :
I'm with you, bruda. The old guys who set up the meets are...old and can't or won't create any more. The young guys don't seem to care. Either from keyboard fatigue or self importance, there is no perceived need for a meet-up. I really miss the get-togethers. Traveling to some other shop and talking with other artists and watching new techniques. I never left a meet without something new and important that I learned. Perhaps there's nothing new to learn??
Posted by PatRaap (Member # 4290) on :
We attended a couple of meets and then tried to put together a couple of our own. Our first one we had a pretty good turn out, met some new folks and learned some new techniques. The second one, was great, with thanks to our Walldog friends that we have met along the way and also learned a lot. I know Chris Lovelady has tried several times to put one together but also can’t get the interest.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
The sparks ignite when an unexpected traveler stops in for a visit and can spend a while.
Posted by Chuck Peterson (Member # 70) on :
Rick, I think I got into the game a few years after you. I started as a youngster at Cal Neon, a union shop in San Diego. There was an old guy that came around the shop once in a while selling brushes, etc. I think it was Izzie Posner. I bought my first brushes from him. They didn’t let me letter there, just fill in the middle of big letters, spray paint and sandblast. I learned a lot there. Got laid off after a couple years and did other kinds of work that was never very satisfying. I started on my own in ’83. I have always been kind of outside the fringe of the Letterheads thing. I’ve always looked up to those (you) guys. I did go to the events McLogan supply used to put on in L.A. where I met people like Keith Knecht, Rick Glawson, Big Daddy Roth and others. I listened to everything they said. I want to do a road trip up the coast sometime and I will look you up, unexpectedly.
