The Statue of Liberty, officially named Liberty Enlightening the World, has become one of the world’s most recognized and beloved architectural icons since its dedication Oct. 28, 1886, on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Standing 305 feet 1 inch from the ground to the top of her torch, the Statue of Liberty serves as a welcome to all.
Such an internationally recognized icon was an easy choice for the marketing communications campaign by 3A Composites USA entitled: “It’s What Legends Are Made Of – Create Your Own.” In this campaign, legendary graphic arts icons – such as The Statue of Liberty – are recreated with one of 3A Composites’ leading graphic display boards, including the Sintra®, Dibond®, Gator™ and Fome-Cor® board lines. These icons are featured in a series of print advertisements, product literature, sample kits and a trade show booth.
3A Composites’ 5-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty was digitally direct printed onto Fome-Cor board.
The copper statue of the goddess of Liberty was presented as a centennial gift by France to the United States with funds raised for the statue by the people of France. French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design the sculpture to commemorate the American Declaration of Independence with the goal of completing the statue in 1876. Gustave Eiffel, designer of the Eiffel Tower, was commissioned to design the copper armature – a massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework that allows the statue’s copper skin to move independently yet stand upright, according to the National Park Service (www.nps.gov).
American architect Richard Morris Hunt was commissioned to design the pedestal upon which the statue would be placed. Fund-raising efforts in the United States financed the 154-foot-tall pedestal.
3A Composites’ 5-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty – including the sculpture and its pedestal base – was also a joint effort.
Printers Finishing Services, Inc., a St. Louis-based division of Loy-Lange Box Company, Inc., managed fabrication of the statue, which was digitally direct printed onto 3/16-inch-thick Fome-Cor® graphic display board. The statue’s image was provided in an Adobe Illustrator file.
Employees at Printers Finishing Services used a platen die-cut not only to cut out the image but to emboss it, creating a pillowed three-dimensional effect. When die-cut, Fome-Cor board’s edges compress completely and stay closed permanently. Fome-Cor board may be debossed as well as embossed.
Engraphix Architectural Signage, Inc., in St. Louis, fabricated the 1.5-foot-tall by 2-foot wide base for the statue by digitally direct printing the pedestal’s image with an Epson Stylus Pro 10000 inkjet printer onto white adhesive vinyl that was laminated to 3/16-inch-thick Fome-Cor board. A clear luster finish over-laminate film was applied over the imprinted vinyl. The pedestal was then hand-cut by Engraphix employees, who finished the display by splicing a bracing piece of Fome-Cor board to the back to join the sculpture and pedestal.
The “Legends” campaign was developed for 3A Composites by McLane & Company, a full-service marketing communications firm based in St. Louis. Scott Gericke, partner, designlab,inc in St. Louis, which worked under the direction of McLane & Company, created campaign graphics.
Fabrication specifications for each icon are included in the “Legends” print ads. Additionally, new literature pieces entitled, “Choosing Your Graphic Display Board Is Easier Than Ever,” provide product information as well as fabrication and application guidelines for each graphic display board available from 3A Composites USA. To request complimentary literature or additional product information, call 1-800-626-3365 or email info.usa@3acomposites.com.