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WGBH's landmark, high-tech sign switched back on

E-mail|Link|Comments () May 9, 2009 12:29 PM

Curious George seemed to be having a good time when the sign was turned on today.

By Meghan Irons, Globe Staff

With the flip of a switch this morning, the long-dark WGBH-TV digital mural came back to life, with an image of Curious George being borne aloft by a clutch of bright balloons.

"We are just very, very happy,'' said WGBH spokeswoman Lucy Sholley. "Connecting with our audiences is a key goal, and the digital mural supports this goal by expressing on the outside of the building the flavor of what is happening on the inside."

WGBH had added the 30-by-45 foot LED display to its new Brighton headquarters along the Massachusetts Turnpike two years ago, beaming to commuters an array of images from former Vice President Dick Cheney to Martin Luther King Jr. and close-ups of cactuses.

But after generating a lot of talk and some distraction for passing motorists, the screen went dark June 18.

WGBH, the public broadcaster responsible for the award-winning science program "NOVA,'' was stalled by a technical glitch. The station turned off the display and sued the video wall's installer and manufacturer over the malfunctions.

Sholley said insufficient ventilation space between the WGBH building and the back of the mural caused overheating of power lines. She said the public broadcaster fixed the problem by installing an exhaust ventilation system on the west-facing roof of the studios.

Sholley said WGBH is seeking restitution from Broadway National, a New York company also known as Broadway Neon, who won the bid to install the display, and Mark IV industries, which was selected as the subcontractor to manufacture it.

A WGBH employee turned on the switch to the screen at 6:30. The images will be shown until 7 tonight. At 6:30 Sunday morning, images of lilacs -- in honor of the Arnold Arboretum's annual Lilac Sunday -- will be on view.

"When appropriate the mural will reference holidays, festivals and shared community events,'' Sholley said.