Back by popular demand,
A Milwaukee signshop executes an unusual lit sculpture for a California library.
By Steve Aust
Founded in 1996, Sign Effectz Inc. (Milwaukee) fabricates electric signage and architectural lighting. Adam Brown, the company’s president said, “Our forte is completely custom work, with materials and methods not normally seen in the sign industry.”
The shop’s unique focus has garnered it national (and, Brown said, beginning last year, international) projects, such as the Greenhaven (CA) Public Library near Sacramento. Deborah Ascheim, a sculptural-lighting artist, designed the project, which entails 250 linear ft. that branch up the library’s exterior walls. Although fiberoptic lighting was considered early in the project, the shop chose LEDs because of their functionality, low power consumption and color changeability.
Sign Effectz incorporated JS LED’s Power Inc. JE-006M LED strips, which it powered with Meanwell power supplies and brought to life with LED Light Solutions’ Eco Light controller. Brown says the strips’ beam angle and size were influencing factors.
The project incorporates a unique hardware package, which comprises a composite of carbon-steel rod and fiberglass, which is fastened over an aluminum backer. The shop hand-formed the 0.125-in.-diameter, carbon-steel rod; secured it with fiberglass and polyester resin; and vacuum-bagged the surface to help secure the components until the resin adhesive cured, to also provide structural stability and protection from the elements.
For added color and appearance of depth, Sign Effectz backsprayed the apparatus with Spraylat’s 400 Series plastic paint. Fabricating the intricate array of wire connections for the sculpture required Sign Effectz to develop an elaborate wiring schematic. The project’s animation comprises a subtle color fade from teal to green that brings the branches “to life,” Brown said.
“The branches also appear to change shape, almost as if they’re breathing,” he added. “The project’s most interesting aspect was developing the project from the artists’ concept into the existing model, which required extensive testing and prototyping.”
The greatest challenge? “Arranging the safe transportation of a very custom piece with the logistics companies required a lot of follow-up. We monitored the delivery process very closely to mitigate potential risks. Everything else involved what we enjoy about the development of one-of-a-kind projects.”
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