neon HOTEL indicator built from recycled signs by tom fruin

‘HOTEL’ by tom fruin, 2012 found signage, neon, rivets, steel 50 x 8 x 1.5 feet all images by robert banat and courtesy the artist

los angeles-born and new york city-based artist tom fruin has sent designboom images of his newest sculptural installation ‘HOTEL’. the permanent piece is a fifty foot tall marquee formed from colorful found street signs of new york framing red neon tubing which spells the word ‘hotel’ down the exterior of the wythe hotel in williamsburg, brooklyn, new york city. the hand-riveted neon signage of this vertical light installation will be illuminated when the new hotel opens its doors to the public on may 1st, 2012.

tom fruin’s studio tells designboom that the signs which comprise ‘HOTEL’, ‘… merge and combine in unexpected ways to create a new whole, showing the variety and spontaneity of the new york streetscape while collectively announcing the arrival of a new hotel in one of the few remaining raw areas of williamsburg. the signs, featuring hand-painted fruit and pizza, air conditioner repair advertisements, warnings and phone numbers, were found all over town from a demolished pizza deli in DUMBO to a converted paper supply warehouse on the bowery. many were liberated from construction dumpsters or discovered in the street. one sign features 3D artwork by graffiti artist dan witz, dating to the mid-90s‘. 

a detailed view of pieces ‘T’ and ‘L’ reveal old notices such as ‘warning: stand clear when container is off the ground’

‘HOTEL’ letters studio view

neon ignition photo by tom fruin

the team installs the five lit letters of ‘HOTEL’

each letter was welded by hand in fruin’s brooklyn studio

visualization of the work’s installation looking towards the ground from a higher point on the piece