The Pre-Vinylettes Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I speak with former sign painter and current book designer, Remy Chwae. Remy is graduate of the sign graphics program at LA Trade Tech and has a BA in political science from Columbia University. In this episode we discuss her experiences working as a sign painter in Los Angeles and her transition to designing books in New York City. Just a quick content warning, his episode does discuss instances of sexual harassment.

Today I’m talking to Tricia O’Neill (@triciao_photos_signs). Tricia is the owner of Signs Unique in Gloucester, Massachusetts and she is also a photographer. She is a graduate of the sign program at the erstwhile Butera School of Art and later earned a BA in photography from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. We talk about Tricia’s differing experiences at these two institutions, about her work for the Boston Red Sox at the historic Fenway Park, and about her experiences with community in the sign painting world, among other things (like her dad starring in a punk rock music video!)

Season 1 of the Pre-Vinylettes Podcast features the audio recordings of Instagram Live chats where I connect with a fellow Pre-Vinylette sign painter to discuss what it's like working in this historically male dominated field. These episodes were recorded between April and June of 2020.

Liane Barker is a sign painter and world traveling workshop leader with more than 40 years experience in the field of sign painting. Her sign business, Barker Signs, operates out of Brisbane, Australia and her worldwide workshops are available on her Mastering the Art of Sign Writing Instagram page. In Part 1 of this two part podcast, Liane and I talk about her rise from apprentice to her sign painting father to owning her own business in the 1980s and the benefits and challenges that come with being a self employed woman sign painter.

In Part 2 of my talk with Liane Barker (@barker_signs) we start off discussing the unique (and envied!) relationship between Liane and her daughter, Kate and follow the story arc of Liane’s phoenix-like rise from the ashes of financial decline to the glory of her newfound love of leading sign painting workshops all around the world. Liane is so inspiring and fun to talk to! I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did recording it. Here is Part Two with Liane Barker.

Shelby Rodeffer, known on Instagram as @smellby, is an artist, illustrator, sign painter, and co-founder Finer Signs and the Pre-Vinylettes. In this episode we talk about her emergence as an artist in 1990s Nashville, the challenges of cobbling together a sign painting education, and her community-oriented approach to art and life. We also touch on our experience co-hosting the 2017 Pre-Vinylettes exhibition in Chicago together. Shelby is an absolute delight and I know you will  enjoy this episode!