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

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

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.

Wiregrass - Blades of Metal

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.

Sign Process - Maritime Autowash

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.