Free Sign

free sign bodega

The first handmade ‘Free’ sign of my collection, found in Bodega, CA.

Driving around the back roads of West Sonoma County on a sunny day, you almost always find a pile of junk by the side of the road with a ‘Free’ sign in plain view. I have yet to find anything of interest, but my eye inevitably lingers on the sign itself. These are almost always handmade and somehow offer a clue as to the character and impetus underlying the otherwise anonymous act of roadside generosity. So I’ve begun collecting ‘Free’ signs, replacing them with my own generic stenciled version, which I sign and date for posterity.

free sign stencil

My first batch of generic ‘Free’ signs, signed and dated, 6″ x 15.5″ each.