Futura: The Art of Rich Black

Futura: The Art of Rich Black
By Rich Black

Dark Horse, 112 Pages

Rock posters had just started going through their third renaissance. The first being in the Sixties with Griffin, Mouse, Moscoso, Tuten, and so on. The second time was the early Nineties with Kozik, Coop, Forbes, Hess, Emek, and Hampton. Rock posters started showing up again in the beginning of 2000. It was as if “Klaatu Barada Nikto!” was uttered, and a small group of people woke up and began making rock posters for the bands touring through their cities.

In case you were wondering, there’s very little money to be made in rock posters. Yet people are still designing them and are passionate. The same can be said of Rich Black. He’s passionate about the poster he does. I personally think he’s had the greatest impact with the Goth/Industrial scene, a scene that’s overlooked by most other rock poster artists. Rich chooses the bands he likes. Bands that you’ve never heard of because they’re hardly on the TV or radio. Great bands that need posters and appreciate them. Whether Rich admits it or not, he’s an important part of that scene, and he’s doing his part to keep it alive. But he’ll never cop to it. It is difficult to out-humble that fucking guy.

Now we’re in the third (and hopefully not the last) poster renaissance of artists who are making the music scene breathe with life and color again. This time around, more people are informed and involved, thanks to the many websites and forums that have been popping up and supporting the movement (especially gigposters.com). Books are being published on the rock poster genre and the artists who are shaping it.

—Brian Ewing, from the Foreword

More on CD art and the future of digital design

I came across an interesting article on Wired today that adds a little to the discussion about the future of CD graphic design. In particular, check out the interviews posted at the end of the article.

Are music graphics dead post-digital?

The music industry is set for massive upheaval, with digital distribution destabilizing long-held business models. How will this affect the designers who create the all-important visual imagery? asks Adrian Shaughnessy [read the rest of this article]

1969 Woodstock Poster

Artist: Arnold Skolnick

The Woodstock dove is really a catbird; originally, it perched on a flute. "I was staying on Shelter Island off Long Island, and I was drawing catbirds all the time," said artist Arnold Skolnick. "As soon as Ira Arnold (a copywriter on the project) called with the copy-approved Three Days of Peace and Music, I just took the razor blade and cut that catbird out of the sketchpad I was using. "First, it sat on a flute. I was listening to jazz at the time, and I guess thats why. But anyway, it sat on a flute for a day, and I finally ended up putting it on a guitar."

Anita Kunz - Talking Heads Cover

Above: A great cover concept by Anita Kunz for a Talking Heads cover that never saw the light of day.

Gary Grimshaw

Gary Grimshaw, legendary rock poster artist is still wowing collectors. His current exhibit, Gary Grimshaw Music Art at Woods Gallery in Huntington Woods, MI is said to be a chronicle of the rock music scene in the Metro Detroit Area from the 60’s to the present. It features original art and printed posters. The exhibit will run from February 25-April 17, 2008. The Gallery is located in the lower level of the Huntington Woods Library.

Aficionados of rock history and memorabilia will have the opportunity to mingle with Grimshaw at the exhibit’s opening reception from 6:30 - 8:30pm on Thursday, March 6, 2008. Woods Gallery is located at 26415 Scotia, Huntington Woods, MI. For information about the exhibit call (248) 581- 2696 or visit www.woodsgallery.org.

The exhibit shows part of the evolution of Gary’s body of work. It is a treat for those seeking to remember the psychedelic era and the pursuit of freedom of expression among Detroit’s counter-culture artists. Grimshaw is the guru of the rock poster genre in Michigan.

In 1999, Gary was named one of Michigan's 100 Greatest Artists and Entertainers of the Twentieth Century by the Detroit Free Press. His work is on view at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Grimshaw created posters and light shows fo
February 25-April 17, 2008r Detroit’s GrandeBallroom in the late 60s, and he has worked with major promoters such as Bill Graham Presents. His collection of rock posters includes work for artists such as Jimi Hendrix, MC5, The Doors, Cream, Iggy Pop, The Who, and The Yardbirds. He is featured in the bible book of posters called The Art of Rock: Posters From Presley to Punk by Paul Grushkin.


Exhibit: Gary Grimshaw Music Art
Reception: Thursday, March 6, 2008 6:30- 8:30pm

http://www.garygrimshaw.com/

Aesthetic Apparatus

Often considered Minneapolis' best totally unknown design super team, Aesthetic Apparatus was founded around 1999 in Madison, Wisconsin by Dan Ibarra and Michael Byzewski as a fun side project from their "real" jobs. Over the years their limited edition screen printed concert posters have secretly snuck into the hearts and minds of a small, rather silent group of socially awkward music and design nerds. Now, Aesthetic Apparatus is a full time, full-fledged, insanely unstoppable, and occasionally award-winning design mega-studio. They will break your heart and drink your blood.

http://www.aestheticapparatus.com