This month features a brilliant subject - Neon! We are joined by Matt Dilling, partner at Lite Brite Neon Studio, who was kind enough to share some of his favorites here. If you ever find yourselves in Kingston, NY, you should stop by Matt's incredible studio, meet the artisans working there and be inspired by the beautiful signs fabricated there daily!
POLISH COLD WAR NEON (Ilona Karwinska, 2011)
"This book is an amazing treasure for any designers interested in the process of pattern design for neon - along with a lot of era specific designs, the Cold War era in Poland was an amazing creative time in signage and development. A great book and great resource" (Matt Dilling).
Buy the book here.
VINTAGE NEON (Len Davidson, 1999)
"Len's book is great collection of historic American signs, and covers signs from his collection and several other major collectors of neon. An amazing overall documentation of the Mid Century period of American Sign Design, Neon in particular".
Buy the book here.
Learn more about Len Davidson and his collection here.
NEW YORK NEON (by Thomas Rinaldi, 2012)
"Tom Rinalidi does a great job of recording existing signs in a diminishing landscape of New York - this book chronicles many signs that are quickly disappearing from the city".
Buy the book here.
Check out Tom Rinaldi's blog and take his tour of NYC's West Village Vintage Signs.
For more city-related neon books, check out:
FLICKERING LIGHT: A History of Neon (by Christoph Ribbat, 2015)
Buy the book here.
THE ZEON FILES: Art and Design of Historic Route 66 Signs (by Mark C. Childs and Ellen D. Babcock, 2016)
Art professors and neon enthusiasts Mark C. Childs and Ellen D. Babcock rescued a collection of neon signs' work drawings from moldy storage and obscurity to create this publication. The book presents a beautiful collection of of historic Route 66-era sign drawings, made by the Zeon Corporation during the 1930-1960s. In addition, the authors discuss the working methods of design and construction and the craft of drafting techniques during this innovative era of American sign making.
Purchase the book here.
THE NEON MUSEUM Las Vegas
Founded in 1996, the Neon Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment. The Neon Museum campus includes the outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard, a visitors’ center housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby and the Neon Boneyard North Gallery which houses additional rescued signs and is available for weddings, special events, photo shoots and educational programs.
Visit the museum.