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From the 15th All Member Show invitation in 1967, created by Sally Price
In the '70s, the Station Shop had no set hours of operation—it was entirely dependent on the volunteers who ran the shop. To make it more convenient during a time with no website or voicemail box, the sign next to the door clearly displayed the shop's status. It was double sided and hung on a vertical bracket, so it could be rotated at the beginning and end of each day. The eye was distinct enough that people could spot it from the parking lot and instantly know if the shop was open.
The original sign
Cherie's recreation
There is some mystery surrounding this sign because the original is missing. Pictured on the left is a facsimile by Cherie Bauer, which she created as part of her MFA internship. Based on her own research and memories of the sign in action, she believes it may have been painted by former Baycrafters director Sally Price around the early '70s.
The font used to write OPEN / CLOSED is distinctly from that era, and that time period lines up with when Sally first stepped into the director role. The earliest known depiction of the eye is from Sally's illustration at the top of this page, which was used to advertise the all-member show in both 1966 and 1967.
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