Tyvek faces up to artist concept

The Arlington Arts Center’s staid brick façade transformed overnight into the backdrop for a disturbing image of hordes of shouting faces 15 feet high and 300 feet long. The fine art museum in Arlington, Va., wrapped itself in artist Rosemary Feit Covey’s creation, part of “The 0 Project” exhibit. Covey first considered DuPont™ Tyvek® as her print medium because it had a texture similar to Japanese rice paper—and is lightweight, durable, water-resistant and able to stand up to outdoor use during fall and winter months.

In 2006, Covey contacted Curt Oberholtzer, DuPont Graphics sign and banner segment leader, for a consultation. After months of planning, DuPont Graphics and a FASTSIGNS franchise in Antioch, Tenn., printed “The 0 Project” on eight rolls of Tyvek in a single day, with the final product weighing in at 95 pounds. “DuPont was wonderful to work with from the beginning,” says Covey. “The Tyvek team was supportive and unselfish every step of the way.” The exhibit ended in February 2008, but the faces live on in masks, t-shirts and subsequent 0 Project exhibits.