What's Inside Issue 04 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)?
Between the covers of the adventures in sign painting in Issue 04 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).
BLAG is now even bigger, with 80 advertising-free pages filling Issue 04. It takes us to 18 countries on six continents, and through time, as we continue our adventures in sign painting craft, community, and culture. And, once again, there's a limited edition poster inside.
Thank you to the dozens of contributors that have made BLAG 04 the biggest (and perhaps best) yet. Read on for a look inside, and members can also check out this bonus material.
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Cover Story
The cover shows the Ghanaian sign painter Stoger working on a commission for a tattoo parlour in Australia in collaboration with Chicago's Deadly Prey Gallery. The gallery is profiled in one of BLAG 04's main features, which tells the story of a commercial artform that emerged alongside Ghana's mobile cinemas in the 1980s.
The feature runs across eight pages, plus the poster insert which was painted by Leonardo, a sign painter from Accra who sadly died before the magazine was printed.
'Coming to America: Renewed Acclaim for the Artists of Accra' and the limited edition poster insert inside BLAG 04.
Contents
The additional pages versus the first three issues means there are more articles and features, in addition to the regular columns and sections. The magazine is kept free of advertising by paying members, patrons, and sponsors, which means that every single page is dedicated to our adventures in sign painting.
On the Brush
There are a sixteen projects profiled in 'On the Brush', straddling commercial commissions, personal initiatives, and exhibition pieces. These come from Australia, France, India, Ireland, Pakistan, Spain, the UK, and the USA.
'On the Brush' spreads from BLAG 04.
Personal Perspectives
One of my favourite things about editing the magazine is hearing, and learning, from different people and painters around the world. BLAG 04 is no different, with a variety of experiences and perspectives, including: Nisha K. Sethi on the power of protest signs; Noble Signs' David Barnett reflecting on his type design education; Gaston Castagnet telling the Architect Casuals story; and Archie Proudfoot basking in the glory of his Shed of the Year prize.
BLAG 04 contributors: Nisha K. Sethi; David Barnett; Gaston Castagnet; and Archie Proudfoot.
Lessons Learned
Gustavo Ferrari delivers the fourth instalment of his 'Secrets of Fileteado Porteño' column: the frames of Fileteado Porteño. There is also educational content from Dapper Signs (originally published here), and the latest alphabet from Rob Cooper: 2 Pencil.
BLAG 04 then includes the first of a regular column, 'Doing it the Right Way', with Right Way Signs' Alex Perry giving guidance on the business of signs.
Dapper Signs' budget neon, the frames of Fileteado Porteño from Gustavo Ferrari, and Rob Cooper's 2 Pencil alphabet.
Check out more Fileteado Porteño in Gustavo's online course.
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Historical Records
A remarkable archive of an Amsterdam sign painting firm sets the scene for the latest in the 'Ye Olde Sign Shoppe' series, while 'Ghost Sign Corner' takes us to Winnipeg, Canada, for more adventures in Light Capsules.
Die Fläche is the new book from Letterform Archive, and Amsterdam's Beekmann firm is BLAG 04's 'Ye Olde Sign Shoppe'.
There are then two Letterform Archive contributions; a close-up look at the Milwaukee transit passes from the middle of the twentieth century, and a review of their new book, Die Fläche.
BLAG Back Issues
Catch up with past issues of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) on the new Back Issues page.
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People & Places
The Dingles Fairground Museum is the latest 'Lettering Location', and we also get to 'Meet the Letterheads' in Brussels and Copenhagen.
Jenna Homen's 'Shop Talk' column contrasts sign painting business models from Canada and The Netherlands, while Alice Mazzilli looks at the enduring medium of the wall for her latest 'Interowriting' piece.
The Moonrocket at Dingles Fairground Museum, and painting the prison walls in Sollicciano, Italy, from Alice Mazzilli's 'Interowriting' column.
In addition to Austria's Die Fläche, the 'Book Club' comes with despatches from Colombia, Hollywood, India, and Los Angeles.
'Book Club' in BLAG 04, featuring: Letras Hechas a Mano by Roxana Martinez Vergara; Bryan Yonki's Hand-Painted in LA: Some Los Angeles Signs; Die Fläche from Letterform Archive; Pooja Saxena's India Street Lettering zines; and Hollywood Signs by Kathy Kikkert.
Sundries
As always, there's a bunch of miscellaneous stuff filling the last few pages, including: a gilded spelling mistake from Vienna; a real wall dog; 'Wise Words' from Singapore; a cartoon; and Scot Campbell going 'Back to the Future' to critique the work of his younger self.
Scot Campbell looks back on this festive window splash, there's a spelling mistake on that piano, and Gladdy is fondly remember by Providence Painted Signs' Shaun Gilheeny.
Thanks
More than 60 contributors from around the world made BLAG 04 possible, and it was once again a pleasure to collaborate with so many brilliant people. Thank you all.
Nothing happens without the members, patrons, and sponsors that fund all the work that goes into the magazine. Thank you! If you're not one already, then join today and receive everything above delivered directly to your mail/post box.
Thanks also to the wonderful team that brings the final print magazine to fruition: Jenna Homen on sub-editing; Utile Studio on design; SYL L'Art Gráfic on print; and Ra & Olly on distribution.
Fonts in Use are Aktiv Grotesk by Dalton Maag and Utile by Sibylle Hagmann from Kontour.
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