The Fading Ad Campaign began as a photographic project documenting vintage mural ads on building brickfaces in New York City spanning nearly a century. It has become a metaphor for survival for me since, like myself, many of these ads have long outlived their expected life span. Although this project doesn’t deal directly with HIV/AIDS, it is no accident I’ve chosen to document such a transitory and evanescent subject. Of the hundreds of ads I’ve photographed, many have already been covered up, vandalized, or destroyed. But still many silently cling to the walls of buildings, barely noticed by the rushing passersby.
This blog was originally designed to be a cross-curricular instructional tool, emphasizing science & technology while examining media literacies and cultural movements. Fading Ad Blog has since grown to become a collaboration with urban archaeologist around the country and from here in Brooklyn as well. Check out the Assignments Page!
Omega Oil was the first fading ad that I photographed. I don’t remember ever noticing them before this. A friend from my photography class called me up and asked if I would walk with him through Harlem to photograph friezes & other architectural details since I had lived there before and he wasn’t comfortable walking with his camera alone. When I noticed the sign, I asked Arthur if he had seen other signs like this before. Terms like ghost signs were not in my lexicon. I was a novice. What was unimaginable at the time was the kaleidoscopic journey on which these signs would take me: From scouring the five boros with Vincenzo in 1997, to a 1999 cross country road trip that would have me sleeping on the floors and couches of the likes of Wm Stage (Ghost Signs) and Tod Swormstedt (American Sign Museum). A minor show at the N-Y Historical Society that got major press on the front pages of the NY Times. The valuable & instructive collaborations with other urban archaeologists like Kevin Walsh & Walter Grutchfield. And wonderful attention from journalists around the globe. The journey continues with the writing and publishing of the book that will feature 75 images from the inception of the project that was shot on chrome. I call it the Fading Ad Campaign’s Chrome Age. Thank you all for your support in this project.
Share your fading ads & comments!
Frank H. Jump is a Flatbush, Brooklyn artist/teacher/resident.
I truly feel that the ads from NY are messages from a period of time. As most messages they have their 15 minutes of fame and then they are forgotten. However, at times in NY it could take 15 months, 15 years or 15 decades for the material aspect of the message to vanish. From a certain perspective these messages are historical snapshots leaving us to wonder and calculate regarding their intended audience and communication. Nice blog. How will you use it with your students to teach?
Great blog. I like the pace and scope of it.
Thanks! Sometimes I worry I post too much. So many images, so little time.
You have it all well categorized and therefore the magnitude of pics is manageable and appreciated. Go for it!
call 2143364213
Great blog. Don’t apologize for too many images.. I like them. =Paul
Thanks Paul. I’ve been using a Pentax Optio mini camera up till now and using a plastic magnifying lens for macro shots. It’s been fun but I’VE JUST BOUGHT A NIKON D40X!! So excited. Waiting for the macro lens to come in.
Best and have a healthy and happy New Year. Will check out your blog. Are you in Italy?
Frank
Frank,
I would love to take a trip up to Connecticut (home state) as I’m sure there is fuel for this type of art. I love the photos you take.
FYI.. i’m in Sorrento, FL. I know… i could keep people guessing 😉
All the best.
=Paul
Hey Paul- Thanks for getting back to me. I’m loving my new D40X. Was down by you not too long ago. Glad you like the pics. All the best to you too.
Frank
I’m a big fan of the blog. I always see these signs around town or in other states and was happy to see you devoted a blog to it and give some history when you have it. Keep it up!
Do you take guest signage from other states/countries? I have some cool stuff from New Orleans if you want.
Absolutely! I host Bob Kisken and Vincenzo Aiosa and feature other artists like Wes Carr and Chris Adams. I would love to see your images and post some of your captions with them! Always wanted to go to N’Orleans.
Good stuff here! If you get the chance you should check out the interior of Sidecar bar/restaurant on 5th ave btwn 15th & 16th in Park Slope. When they took down the interior drywall to build it out they uncovered a billboard for what looks to be a snake oil type of cure-all (Dr. Tucker’s 59). It is pretty well preserved since it was behind a wall so they kept it exposed as a design element.
Frank,
I enjoy the site a great deal. I drive a truck and get to New York and other cities and am always on the lookout for these old signs. There is however a brand new sign in NYC. If you are on the Major Deegan Expy and take the 3rd Av bridge exit you will see a new sign on you right when you get to the stoplight and McD’s. I saw the painter hanging up there about 3 weeks ago and the sign was about 1/2 done. It is now complete. A building supply dealer if I remember correctly. Sorry about the loss of your dog. A writer- friend of mine said that the only place you can bury a dog is in your heart. I have 3 there now.
Mark…..
Thank you for your kind words Mark. I’ll check out that sign on the way home from the Poconos this weekend. All the best to you and thanks for visiting my site.
Very cool site. I love the photos. I travel around for work and I am always looking for old signs like this. Here are a couple from the west coast for your collection:
Glad you enjoy the site. Would love to see the pics. You can send them with a narrative to frankjump@fadingad.com.
Best,
Frank
I haven’t been to your website in some time. So i decided to check it out. You have added so much to the site. I really love it. I constantly see “fading ads” all over town. I often say to myself , I’m sure Frank already has a photo of this.
Kisha….
Yo Kisha! You can never be too sure. Snap it and send it to me or write down the cross-streets. How are things in Abraham Lincoln? Did you see the Evans Dairy shots near the school? Thanks for the note and call me soon. Let’s hang. You still have to show me your St Albans signs.
xo Jump
(I tried to email this letter and it bounced back…)
Frank: Hey–I just stumbled across your site via Curbed, and wanted to say I think it’s very cool. I also like to photograph old signs, e.g., you can see several I took on a recent trip to Pittsburgh here:
http://thegayrecluse.com/2008/04/27/on-pittsburgh-city-of-bridges-to-our-forgotten-past/
and here’s one in Washington Heights, where I live:
http://thegayrecluse.com/2008/01/20/on-the-incandescent-transience-of-the-rex-cole-general-electric-appliance-empire/
Look forward to seeing more! Regards,
Matt aka TGR
Hola Frank,
me encanta tu website, tu blog y tus fotografias.
Mil besos.
@n@
Gracias Chica Guapa! Tu eres simpatica.
I tried emailing you this weekend the below, let me know if you want the photo and where to send it to.
Blog looks great. I took this picture of an old gas pump today in Red Hook on Van Brunt between Commerce and Delevan. Its not an ad but I thought it fit the theme on your site and relevant for the times. I believe this is a Wayne 866 Clock Face model. Wayne was the first maker of gas pumps, started in Ft Wayne, Indiana back in the 1880’s.
Miss you! Come w/V to vist us in TO!
Perhaps in August after we visit Enzo’s mamma.
Awesome gorgeous work! Those old signs have always caught my attention, too — so beautiful and evocative. I also liked your idea about memorializing those lost to AIDS on Memorial Day. That Reagan stamp was genius, whoever designed that.
Thanks Emily! The original poster of Reagan was designed by a sub-group of ACT-UP in 1987 called Gran Fury. The commemorative stamps series was an idea I had to memorialize the darkest moments of the Reagan, Clinton, Bush eras. Seems like we are going to have an exciting election this year. See what eight years of Bush does to a country – and a world.
Great pictures that chronicle some great art. It’s interesting to see the slice of life from past era’s displayed as history, preserved in a moment
in time.
Just took a look at your picture, love it, I’ve been taking some photos, myself, and find it quite fastinating, would like to see the art work preserved, or restored, have see, and photgraphed the Owl Cigar sign in Great Fall, Montana, and really like it. Thank you.
I didn’t see any way to contact you except this comment area, and don’t know if you check comments, but I thought you might like to know that I discuss your fotoblog on my fotoblog, Newark USA, Wednesday, September 17, 2008. I also was pleased to see an acquaintance and fellow AIDS Dissident, Peter Duesberg, in the “Assignments” area (Gary Null video). Little thing: heading “Habadashery” s/b “Haberdashery”. That jumped out at me in that I recently offered reform of that word to “habberdashery” on my Simpler Spelling Word of the Day website.
LCS- Thanks for the mention on your Newark USA site. Checked it out and will also feature your Coca-Cola signs. Great site! Updated the category Haberdashery. Thanks. Hope to run into one day while shooting Newark.
Best,
FHJ
Hi Frank,
Is the Michelan Man an image that you took?
We would like to use the image in our magazine but are unsure as to whether this is an ad, or an ad that you photographed?
Could you please get back to me as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Diane Marie
I’m so glad I found your site. I’ve been obsessed with old painted-on-brick ads for a long time, and I started photographing them when I lived in London about 25 years ago (gasp!). It never really occurred to me that other people shared this fascination. Your work is wonderful.
Eric- would love to see your images if you care to share. I will feature them. The bulk of my London shots from early 2001 haven’t yet been scanned. Thanks for the kind words. Frank
Frank, your site is fabulous! Great stuff here. As an avid bike rider I’ve seen some of these ads in my travels, but obviously your ‘roving eye’ has picked up much more of the ghost ads than I could possibly find.
I’m into collecting antique beer bottles from the Brooklyn’s heyday as a beer-brewing center, so I appreciate the history and asthetics of the buildings and the disappearing advertising. Keep up the good work!
And coincidences occur here: you were a teacher to my nephew, and we have a mutual friend.
Thanks Doug! The world just keeps getting smaller. Who do we share in common and who is your nephew. I hope he remembers me well.
Best,
Frank
Hey Frank, just web surfing and came upon your website. I like the concept. My dad was a photographer for many years during the old black and white days. With the advent of technology, we are able to do so much more with photography. I recently had my camera stolen, however, I will replace it soon and I will add some pics to your website. I usually see so many faded ads in and around NY and also when I travel out of town. I never really considered them works of art, although they always seemed interesting. Your website has given me a project to work on when I’m back up and running. Added you to my Favorites. Peace.
Huwd, thanks and let me know when you get your camera!
Dear Frank,
Nice site! I have always loved old signs — fading, hit by sunlight — and the hints of a different age and immigrant groups that have inhabited our cities and landscape, and your shots do a great job of capturing them.
I am doing a life history of my Dad’s life (just celebrated his 94th birthday) and am wondering if I could have permission to use one of your S. Klein Department store shots. He worked for Klein’s Department Store in Quincy, Illinois right before World War II. This would just be a way to give add an iconic flavor to his reminiscences. I will probably print up to 20 copies for family.
He never mentioned “S. Klein” as the name. Was this a department store in Newark? I’m in Highland Park, N.J.
Many thanks,
Rick
Dear Rick-
S. Klein’s had stores in the Northeast, with the flagship store in Union Square NYC. Good chance there was one in Illinois. Flattered that you want to use my image for your printed ephemera. Feel free to do so, and if you feel so inclined, feel free to make a donation to the Fading Ad Blog through PayPal if you can. I hope the link was helpful at Wikipedia.
Best,
Jump
I never really paid much attention to the fading ads I’ve seen on walls but it’s nice to know that someone is out there capturing them before they disappear.
great project! here in Ventura CA people have worked to preserve some of the building art like this.
i love how your header art is a slide show!
Hey thanks artpredator. The header slideshow is a new addition after I changed blog theme. Send me some fadepix of Ventura and I’ll feature them.
i’ll see what i can do!
Great site! I enjoyed exploring it…you have done a great job here.
Thanks so much tothewire. Had an Internet presence for around 9 years with my website but I had to bite the bullet and blog. Lileks was one of my early mentors, used to write to me on occasion and share his fades from Chicago. His blog is huge.
tothewire- when did you start your blog?
Just 2 months ago…does it show?
it must not have surprised you…lol
Thanks for your kind words. I’m really enjoying the blogging experience and have passed the compulsion over to my students who are starting to blog as well with their school blog I created for them. Check it out if you can http://blog.ps119amersfort.com
Be well
Thank you for sharing that is an amazing site! I imagine it is a great tool for your students and other teachers as well!