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The Missouri History Museum was looking to highlight and promote its upcoming “St. Louis Sound” when it turned to Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures, Inc.
The St. Louis Sound exhibit, which debuted in August and runs through January, tells the story of the region’s role in popular music. Nearly 200 artifacts are on display from national stars, local legends and important venues.
“The exhibit may be called St. Louis Sound, but it’s really the sound of America,” says Andrew Wanko, public historian, and content lead on the exhibit. “We are the last eastern city, the gateway to the west, equal parts north and south—for decades St. Louis artists have absorbed all of the greatest parts of our country’s music and created something new. Scott Joplin, Josephine Baker, Chuck Berry, Albert King, Ike and Tina Turner, Miles Davis, Clark Terry, Nelly, and more weren’t just music legends known worldwide, they were formative influences on the rest of the country’s music. Few cities anywhere apart from Los Angeles or New York can claim so many leading lights in different genres.”
Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures, located in St. Louis, fabricated and installed six mesh fabric framed banners hanging outside on the back side of the museum. These large colorful banners are each 27 feet high, with widths ranging from 10 to 18 feet.
The fabric used was 9 oz. mesh, requested by the client to match other banners Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures fabricated and installed for the front entrance of the building. The banners were printed with an ink jet process and were created and installed over eight weeks in July and August.
The most significant challenge for Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures was installing the banners 35 feet up in the air using a lift. That’s an issue that the company has faced before, though, as the museum is a past client for the company, which regularly fabricates and installs the banners for various events and exhibits.
CLIENT: Missouri History Museum
DESIGN & INSTALLATION: Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures Inc.
PROJECT LOCATION: St. Louis, Mo.