Bay Area’s ‘Brightest Star’

Neon has that undefinable 'something' that people just can't seem to get enough of.

Think about New York's Times Square; then mentally switch off all the neon signs. Nope, now it's not the same at all! Without neon, many of the art form's supporters agree, cities are devoid of energy, warmth, and visual appeal.

But for all its draw and beauty, neon also needs its ambassadors in order to survive. That's where the Bay Area's own Randall Ann Homan and Al Barna come in.

The husband‐and‐wife neon historians and preservationists are the founding members of the organization San Francisco Neon and the co‐producers of 'Neon Speaks,' the popular annual neon symposium and festival.

The latest edition of 'Neon Speaks,' now in its seventh year, is almost upon us. Produced in partnership with San Francisco's Tenderloin Museum, 'Neon Speaks 2024' will be presented across five days, September 7, 8, 12, 14, and 15. Programming will take place in San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda, and online.

Presentations, walking tours, and studio visits are in the lineup for those who attend. Since space is limited and tours sell out quickly, you'll want to register early.

Homan and Barna's 'Neon Speaks' is ever‐evolving, showcasing presenters from around the world. When the pandemic hit, rather than 'go dark,' the couple pivoted to an online symposium, and found that they made an indelible neon mark around the globe.

"That was a pleasant surprise," says Barna. "Presenters can participate without travel, which opens up our whole network."

This year, the furthest presenters are two architects, Ken Fung and Kevin Mak, from Street Sign Hong Kong. "They're going to tell us…what they do to try and keep neon in the Hong Kong landscape, whether it's saving old signs or putting up new ones." Marveling at the extent of the festival's reach, Barna adds, "they’re actually doing their presentation from a design conference in Paris."

Launching the symposium on Saturday September 7 will be artist, muralist, and collector Dan Fontes, who has "an incredibly large collection of pinball machines," according to Homan. "He's also the keeper of 50 found paintings from the '20s to the '50s, designed by the Wonderlite Neon Products Co., beautiful old sign designs that were found in a box in the basement of a house a friend bought—very mysterious!"