Over the course of three days in 1965, San Francisco graphic designer Barbara Stauffacher Solomon painted large-scale graphics on the walls of the changing rooms at The Sea Ranch’s Moonraker Athletic Center as a way to inexpensively enliven the space. To many, Solomon’s graphics represent the first significant application of what became known as “supergraphics” as an architectural component. The legacy of supergraphics continues through the work of artists such as Frank Stella and Jan Van Der Ploeg, who paint directly on walls and employ bold graphic design to create work that is architectural in scale and ambition. This project uses colored tape instead of paint to make a big colorful mural that can be quickly produced by a group of students, is adjustable on the fly, and is easily removed.
Tape + A Wall
Colored masking tape. We like Scotch Expressions and ScotchBlue painter’s tape, but the artist tape widely available at art stores is good, too.
A variety of rulers and straight edges. Long rulers are good for taping straight lines. Short rulers are great to hold down on the tape and tear clean lines, as well as for measuring and marking points. It’s useful to cut a bunch of long (3–4 foot) thin straightedges out of foam core. Put a piece of tape on each end and use them as hands-free guides to tape straight lines, or use them as spacers for creating stripes.
Levels. Long ones make good straightedges, especially while making lines that are perfectly vertical, horizontal, or 45 degrees. Short “torpedo” levels are useful as well.
X-Acto knives. If you can, cut on the wall, but it will leave small marks. Otherwise use your straightedges to rip the tape cleanly.
Measuring tape.
Pencils.
Ladders (if required).
Designed by practicing artists, the Open Studio classroom activities aim to connect high school teachers and students with key ideas and issues in contemporary art. See all of the Open Studio activities.
This project is meant for a group to make collectively. It can be approached so the group works together on one agreed-upon graphic gesture, or subdivided so smaller teams of 2 to 4 people each work on a section.
Decide if you are making one large collective gesture or subdividing the wall into sections. If subdividing, decide how many sections to make. If, for example, you have 18 students and a 30-foot long wall, the wall could be divided vertically into six 5-foot-wide sections, with three students assigned to each.
Some questions you might ask when brainstorming the work:
Then come together and look over each other’s sketches. If you are making one large graphic, this is where everyone needs to agree on a direction, and plan it out.
Run lines horizontally with tape and level to box out the top and baseline of the text. Then figure out how you want one key letter to look, like the “G.” Once the weight and look of that feels right, apply the same angles and dimensions to the other letters.
As you trim out the original boxes, guidelines, and excess lines, be conscious of your tape “craft”—keep lines straight and tears clean, so that the work feels considered and refined.
Keep going until the design is finished—either when you complete your proposed design, or, if winging it, when you run out of time. Touch up any tape gaps or other elements that need adjustment.
7. Stand back and admire your supergraphic!
