A few years ago, on Penn Ave, just after you crossed Negly as you drive toward town there used to be this awesome Atari sign painted on the side of the building. It was by far a favorite of mine and one day it was gone before I could get a picture.

Thankfully there are some great people in the area that love signs more that I do and they have been collecting pictures of Pittsburgh signs for a few years now. The Pittsburgh Signs Project just might be one of the coolest websites in town. I think it is a great intersection of art, photography, history and technology all rolled into one interesting website.

To celebrate Pittsburgh’s 250th Birthday the Pittsburgh Signs Project is publishing a book of these pictures and they are looking for your pictures too. They are looking for pictures of signs from the 14 counties that make up Western, PA and everyone is invited to submit 5 of their photographs. More Info at www.PittsburghSigns.org

CALL FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS!
The Pittsburgh Signs Project invites photographers of all levels from the 14 counties of southwestern Pennsylvania to submit up to five images for possible inclusion in Pittsburgh Signs: 250, a full-color book showcasing images of signs, past and present. Counties represented may be: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland.

Image guidelines:
Images may be color or black and white.
Images should be 6-7 inches (2100 pixels) wide.
Images must be at least 300 dpi.
Images must be .tif or .jpg

Name your image using the following guidelines:
LastnameSignname.jpg (i.e. SmithDairyQueen.jpg)
Please email up to five images to: 250signs@gmail.com
or mail a CD-R of images to:
Greg Langel
1142 Hillsdale Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Submission deadline is April 30, 2008.
Pittsburgh Signs Project editors will contact you in April regarding your submission.
Created by the Pittsburgh Signs Project, Pittsburgh Signs: 250 will document and reflect on signs from the fourteen counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Featuring original photographs, essays, oral histories, maps, archival materials, and personal reflections, the book will be a lasting resource and object of pride for readers of all ages and backgrounds, and will capture the region’s visual culture, architectural heritage, entrepreneurial spirit, and legacy of innovation. Some of the signs the book will celebrate are new, some overlooked, some lost to renewal and change.