Tag Archives: wall

Collagewall Installation

Nancy and I had been discussing what pictures to add to the walls in the house.  We were trying to find something that was a nice layout and also could include images from a variety of places.  We settled on the Collagewall from MPix.  I have used MPix for a lot of photo printing requirements over the years so was happy to give this product a go.

They have a variety of configurations that you can choose from.  They have varying dimensions and layouts and you can  pick your images to fit different aspect ratios.  The one we went with was 4.5’ across to fit a large wall space and it included some large and small square format images with a couple of panoramic shots and one vertical thin image.  I did all of the selections and formatting in Lightroom and then just dragged and dropped them in to the configuration tool.  It was very straightforward.

The whole things was printed and shipped quickly and would have been with us shortly thereafter had it not been for a winter storm that meant the package got to spend a week in Salt Lake City.  However, it finally arrived and we could install it.  There is a paper template provided to assist in putting it on the wall.  You tape that in place checking for location and level before getting to work.  A series of pins need to be inserted into the surface of the wall.  Using the template, you can make an initial pin hole with one of the pins without pushing it all the way in.  Then, when all locations have an initial mark, the template can be removed and saved for any future installation.

Then add the full set of pins by pushing them all the way in to the initial holes previously made.  This results in a grid of pins covering the full area of the finished work.  Slots on the back of the prints will then slide over the heads of the pins.  For some of the small prints and the panos, adhesive foam pads are added to provide some stability.  The larger prints are stabilized sufficiently by the pins.  Then you slot everything in to place.

From start to finish, it was probably little more than half an hour to put it up.  A significant portion of that was making sure the template was exactly where we wanted and properly leveled.  Nancy pushed out each print while I was inserting the pins.  Finishing it off was very simple.  The nature of the installation means changing a print out for a replacement would be very easy and then include a folding element that can be inserted in the back to make each print stand on its own if required.  I’m really happy with the way it has come out and might do a smaller installation for another location in the house.  In truth, the longest part of this is choosing the right shots to include.

Cleaning the Gum Wall

One of the more unpleasant tourist attractions in Seattle is the gum wall.  That made it on to the blog in this post from a few years ago.  We went to check it out when we had visitors staying recently.  However, we had chosen poorly (or well depending on your perspective).  They were in the process of cleaning the wall.  Some poor guy was busy with a jet washer blasting the crap off the walls.  Not a nice job I imagine.

This is Disgusting – You Have Been Warned!!!

wpid6614-IMG_1531.jpgWhile in downtown Seattle, I was introduced to something that I had never heard about. It is the gum wall. Not having heard about this before, I was curious. It is a wall where people have taken to sticking their used gum creating a wall of gum. We actually went in the wrong direction initially so didn’t find it. A reversal of course took us back to Pike Place Market and a word with a guy who worked there provided us with directions. It was very close.

wpid6618-IMG_1536.jpgHis parting words were to try not to lose our lunch. I thought he was joking but he was spot on. When I first saw the wall, I did experience a pretty nauseous feeling. It is quite disgusting. After a while, you get used to it a bit more but it doesn’t stop being quite unpleasant. I only had my phone with my and it was rather dingy down there – even without the gum. However, I had to try and record what I saw. Not the nicest of tourist attractions but one that has a sort of morbid curiosity about it!

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