Art Display Company

Sign Post - LED Sculptures in Chevy Chase, Maryland

2009-12-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

Chevy Chase Night Sky Brightened with Luminescent Light Tower at The Shops at Wisconsin Place

2009-11-25T10:11:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC –Art Display Company today announced the completion of its 35-foot tall Light Tower designed by artist Athena Tacha at The Shops at Wisconsin Place, located at the corner of Wisconsin and Western avenues near Mazza Gallerie.

"We are very excited to work with a talented sculptor in helping define the new Wisconsin Place," said Doug Kilsheimer, President of Art Display Company. "The light tower represents the expansion and vitality of our growing community."

The tower culminates the vision of both Art Display Company and tower sculptor Tacha. The W's in the tower's design refer to the internet and modern information age and to the three surrounding avenues of the block – Wisconsin, Western, and Willard.

The Light Obelisk on the fountain (inspired by both Metro signposts and Washington’s Memorial) rises 25 feet as the focus at the crossing of the axes – from the main street corner to Bloomingdale’s, through the Light Riggings activating the Arcade, to the office and the condominium towers – and down to the 35-foot WWW-Tower, the culminating beacon at the Willard entrance. The project architect, Brad Edgerly, termed the complex a “Light Avenue” – hinting at Paris’ Champs Elysees or New York’s Time Square.

“The triangular WWW-tower based on the initials of the three avenues also playfully refers to the Web and the information age we live in. Appropriately, Microsoft is a major tenant of the development’s office building. Inspired by Washington’s multiple radio towers as well as by its numerous trees, the tower combines a rigid vertical structure with the irregularity and colorfulness of living plants, enhanced by LED animation that beckons passing cars at night. Radio towers are information carriers, not only of messages on Earth, but also between us and cosmos, through telescopes and satellites. Like the ‘water’ text on the Light Obelisk, the WWW-Tower places us in the wider context of the universe," said Athena Tacha, the installation’s designer.

Tacha's sculptures and photo-works are on display in many American museums and private collections and she has won over fifty competitions for permanent public art commissions. Her other works at the development include an obelisk sculpture with an LED light display in the south plaza and a light sculpture above the pedestrian arcade.

Art Display Company and Tacha worked collaboratively to conceive, design, and bring to life the tri-colored LED structure, which sits in front of the plaza's Whole Foods entrance. The RGB tubes, programmed to constantly change colors in varying rhythmic progressions, are suspended from the roof with large aluminum beams and a network of steel cables which prevent the tubes from swaying even in 70-mile-hour-winds. This cable network gives the impression of a ship’s riggings—the arcade’s airy and semi-transparent roof can be imagined as the sails held by their Light Riggings.

With the implementation of the light tower, Wisconsin Place continues to generate a great amount of interest around Chevy Chase with its lively town center, first-class office space, residential apartments, boutiques and restaurants.

Art Display Company (ADC) is the Mid-Atlantic region’s leading manufacturer, designer and installer of commercial signage and environmental graphics. Founded by Gunther Kilsheimer in 1947, Art Display Company is now operated by his son, Douglas Kilsheimer. ADC’s award winning staff provides counsel on every phase of projects from design to permitting, through construction to installation. Architects, developers, Fortune 500 companies and individual entrepreneurs turn to Art Display Company to transform their vision into a tangible reality. The 50,000 square foot facility is home to over 100 skilled craftspeople committed to the production of interior and exterior signage in neon, metal fabrication, plastic, screen process printing, carpentry, digital graphics with large format applications and a full canopy and awning facility. For more information, please visit www.artdisplayco.com

Gunther Kilsheimer, Pioneer in Graphic Arts Passes Away at Age 86

2009-08-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

Press Release

Washington, D.C.— Gunther Kilsheimer, founder of Art Display Company and a pioneer in signs and graphic arts in Washington D.C., passed away August 8, 2009 in his home in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He was 86. Mr. Kilsheimer is survived by his wife, Martyna, his son, Douglas, his daughter-in-law, Monica Kilsheimer, and his grandchildren, Brandon and Casey of Annapolis, MD.

One of Gunther’s most recognizable accomplishments was his integral role in the design of the American iconic Toys ‘R’ Us logo and sign. Gunther designed a sign for one of the founders of the company, Mr. Bill Bederman when the company was still called “Children’s Supermart Toys.” They had worked closely together developing the Geoffrey the Giraffe logo. Along with a new image, Mr. Bederman wanted a more upscale sign, one with individual, channel letters. When Gunther showed Mr. Bederman the cost to have that many letters in the title Mr. Bederman asked for a name change. The result was “Toys ‘R’ US.” Only the “R” had to be backwards as if a child had written it.

Gunther was born in Pforzheim, Germany and escaped the Nazi Holocaust thanks to the efforts of The Jewish Agency which arranged his passage to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before the start of World War II. Gunther sailed to the United States in 1947, from Brazil, with his first wife, Sonia, and their baby girl, Daisy. His dream was to make signs like the ones he saw in photos of Time Square. He and his family found a home in Washington, D.C. where he opened his first office in his father’s attic. One of his early jobs was lining President Harry Truman’s inauguration parade route with the seals of the countries that formed the United Nations in 1948.

Gunther’s son, Doug Kilsheimer, became President of Art Display Company after his father retired in 1994. Today, the company has grown to a 50,000 square foot facility with over 100 employees. A living legacy to a man who came to America with a dream and made it a reality.

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Art Display Company (ADC) is the Mid-Atlantic region’s leading manufacturer, designer and installer of commercial signage and environmental graphics. Founded by Gunther Kilsheimer in 1947, Art Display Company is now operated by his son, Douglas Kilsheimer. ADC’s award winning staff provides counsel on every phase of your project from design to permitting, through construction to installation. Architects, developers, Fortune 500 companies and individual entrepreneurs turn to Art Display Company to transform their vision into a tangible reality. The 50,000 square foot facility is home to over 100 skilled craftspeople committed to the production of interior and exterior signage in neon, metal fabrication, plastic, screen process printing, carpentry, digital graphics with large format applications and a full canopy and awning facility. For more information, please visit
www.artdisplayco.com

Best in Show Award - “Signs of the Times” 2009 International Sign Contest

2009-06-09T05:32:00.000-07:00

We met the challenge of bringing Cooper Carry’s uniquely original design for Forest City’s, “The Shops at Wiregrass,” Tampa, Florida to glorious reality winning “Signs of the Times” highest recognition in their International Sign Contest.

Working with the Design and Development Teams, Art Display Company fabricated a beautifully detailed comprehensive sign system. From 25 foot tall fibreglass sheathed “blades of grass” illuminated by changing multi-color Kinetic Light Systems to full-color, translucent directories framed with cut-out, welded aluminum accent blades, to internally illuminated pole supports mimicking growing grass stalks, the range of detail and depth of professionalism compares favorably to the finest
craftsmanship in our profession.

The Shops at Wiregrass is an open-air retail and entertainment destination located in Wesley Chapel, Florida.It is Pasco County's newest Shopping Center, encompassing 800,000 sq. ft. of retail, restaurants and entertainment on 67 acres of land.

The main identification consist of a 25ft tall sculptural “W” that looks like blades of grass and iInternally illuminated channel letters. The “W” has welded aluminum frame covered with white painted fiberglass skin. The sculpture is illuminated by changing, multi-colored Kinetic Light system. The letters are mounted onto two separate curved raceways. “The Shop” sits 4ft behind “at Wiregrass” allowing landscaping to be installed around, between and behind the sign.

The directory sign's unique 10ft tall pole is fabricated from 6 pipes with different diameters and a light fixture built into the concrete footer. Light shoots up between the staggered pipes emphasizing the “grass shoots” growing. The directory is a double sided internally illuminated cabinet with decorative 1/2in thick painted aluminum “grass blades” welded to the post.

Soaring High in Baltimore Harbor

2009-05-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

Legg Mason awarded Art Display the contract for their new, International Headquarters Identification in Baltimore’s “Harbor East.” The all glass curtain wall presented some interesting challenges for the installation of the channel letters.

With LED providing the illumination for Legg Mason’s 12’ 9” and 10’ tall letters, the service on these letters will be minimal and our team of designers worked closely with the developer, Streuver Bros. Eccles and Rouse in devising
a method of attaching the letters to the glass mullions that brought out the best in our teams’ inventiveness.

Unique Identity at Inox Restaurant

2009-04-07T05:51:00.000-07:00

We've heard plenty about Inox Restaurant, which opened a few months ago in Tysons Corner, VA. Inox means stainless steel in french and the meaning is taken out of the kitchen and greeting you big and bold. We installed very unique stainless steel channel letters above the main entrance. They are three feet deep and probably the deepest letters Art Display Co. has ever made.

Wiregrass - Blades of Metal

2008-10-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

The making of this 18-foot tall sculpture in the shape of grass blades forming a "W" involved drawing each crossection of the "blade", cutting the pieces out of aluminum and welding them on the curved core post. The structure was then filled with fiberglass, sanded smooth and bolted to mounting plates. Painting was to be done on site (in Florida) after installation.

Very ornate internally illuminated directories with 3-layer posts and digitally printed graphics.

Art Display Gets a Digital Face-Lift

2008-08-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

Art Display Co., a sign and awning manufacturer in the Washington DC metro area with more than 60 years experience, thought it was time to refresh its online presence. Customers frequently want to see the latest in technology and environmental design, compare what was designed for others in their industry and get new ideas for their next project. The previous web site was more than 6 years old and didn’t allow for quick additions of new projects and features.

New web technology has enabled Art Display Co. to keep up and deliver image-rich content that is both educational and inspirational. Pages have dynamic content, allowing newly completed projects to be added automatically at the top. The projects are organized by industry type – retail, residential, corporate, etc. If, for example, a property manager or a restaurant owner is not familiar with the various types of signage, she can check out the corresponding section for ideas and research the case studies for more.

The recently redesigned website has lots of room for expansion. Visitors will soon be able to find information on industry related terminology and fabrication insights to help them understand the process. A color chart will soon be added to the artwork submission guidelines and letter visibility chart.

Art Display Co. offers design and fabrication of environmental graphics, ranging from banners, awnings and canopies, neon and LED illuminated signage to comprehensive plans for multi-use projects complete with shopping center pylons, monument signs wayfinding and ADA signs. Recent projects include channel letters and promotional graphics for the Washington Nationals Stadium, complete sign package for the mixed-use development Park Place Annapolis, leasing center graphics for Millville by the Sea in Delaware and fabricating the structure for the Butterfly Pavilion in the Natural History Museum.

For more information contact:

Diana Cheshmedjiev, Senior Designer
240-765-1400
diana@artdisplayco.com

Arthur Goldberg, Executive Vice President
240-765-1400
arthur@artdisplayco.com

Millville by the Sea

2008-08-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

Signweb recently featured on their Design & Gallery Channel an article about Millville by the Sea, complete with photos and Arthur Goldberg's insights on the project.

Millville by the Sea Memoirs

Useful Link

2008-07-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

Environmental Graphic Design Organizations

From the Archives - AOL headquarters makeover

2008-07-09T05:53:00.000-07:00

Just came upon this article in the online Interior Design magazine. This is a project we've done a couple of years ago and was met with enthusiastic praise.

http://www.interiordesign.net/article/CA6411102.html

Sign Process - Maritime Autowash

2008-01-21T04:40:00.000-08:00

Let's take a look at a few of the steps involved in making an illuminted sign cabinet:

Custom shaped face-frame is fabricated out of welded square aluminum tube.

The cabinet is fabricated aluminum, over 10 ft x 10ft in size.

Measuring and positioning the graphics on the frame. The graphic was printed on white vinyl banner material. To prevent it from looking washed out, the image was printed flipped on the other side. This way, when the fluorescent llights are on, the colors will still appear bright and vibrant.

Stretching the digital print onto the frame.

Meanwhile... the cabinet is painted and left to dry.

These are the molding pieces that will hold the sign faces in place.

Fast forward: the sign is assembled (with fluorescent lights already in place) and ready for installation.

Hair Salon Awning

2008-01-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

This charming little awning for the 1201 Salon in Washington, DC is currently in the shop, almost finished and waiting installation. Its unusual shape with lots of curves made it a challenge to staple the Sunbrella material to the frame.

It reminds me of a beauty salon dryer...

Paint colors to the rescue

2008-01-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

In my experience as an environmental graphic designer I've run into the following problem quite often: a customer specifies a paint color and I don't have the corresponding fan to even imagine what the color looks like. How can I suggest colors for the signage if I'm not sure what the walls look like? Thanks to the folks at colorcharts.org that's not a problem any more.

I have a feeling that the site is primarily designed for people who want to digitally "try" different paint colors for their homes and have to purchase and download the software, but I use it to type the paint color I need, then sample the resulting color and use in my program.

Check out this great collection: http://www.colorcharts.org/

Happy New Year!

2008-01-08T05:46:00.000-08:00

After a busy holiday season everybody's back in business and we're ready for the new challenges of 2008. Some exciting new projects are under way, one of them being the Shops at Wiregrass in Florida. The design of the signage is quite unique and will require some serious fabrication magic!