Customer Reviews

High Art

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A highly informative book with beautiful graphics for those interested in vintage posters of the 60's or graphic arts or typology. Detailed information on the individual artists such as Victor Moscoco, Stanley Mouse, Randy Tuten, and my favorite but more obscure Bonnie MacLean who was a Fillmore staff member responsible for the chalkboard announcements at that venue. Includes American and British Artists. The unique use of color and fonts, which were influenced by the Victorian and Art Nouveau era makes this a must buy for art, graphics, and design students and vintage poster collectors. And if you grew up in the 60's like me, this book is a bit of nostalgia that shows that the art work was really well executed even under the influence....

First off, fair warning: If you think you might like to own this book then you should buy it now as this is a highly collectable book. Essentially, this is a survey of the 1960's era psychedelic concert/venue poster genre that sprang up in San Francisco before spreading throughout the USA and the world in the form of the 'black light' poster.
The author, a British music promoter who became a poster art aficionado, has done a good job of describing the development and rise of the genre as well as tying it into the overall history of the advertising art poster beginning in the 'Belle Epoque.' Within chapters, he singles out artists and their work and places them in the context of the movement. The national origin of the author is a factor here as it is obvious that the author has personal relationships with and has a more intimate knowledge of the British poster artists and art scene than he has with those of the American scene. Still, he does a more than adequate job covering the domestic American scene. This book weighs a ton because of the excellent, thick, paper stock it is printed on and because the English printer used lavish amounts of eyepopping brightly colored ink in its printing. As a sidenote, there is a fascinating section on acid blotter paper art with accompanying photographs, and a section on collecting psychedelic posters. PLUS, to get one's collection going, new copies of the book include a coupon for a complimentary psychedelic poster from Alan Forbes and the San Francisco Art Lab.
I rate this book only four stars because 1) due to its highly collectible nature, it should have been published in hardback also. 2) The author cites some work by an artist and then fails to picture/identify it. 3) This topic begs for a book at least twice a long as it is.
Still, I am quite certain that any purchaser will be more than happy with it.

Ah, the nostalgia this book brings back. Not only the beautiful art work, but the musical groups, the "High" Priests and Priestesses of the era - Tim Leary, Grace Slick, etc. I thought it was interesting that this style of Art poster is making a comeback! Check out the last few pages with posters for Soundgarden, Hole, Beastie Boys and TOM JONES!!!
High quality printing and paper. A certificate for a LImited Edition Poster is included.
One of the books authors, Ted Owen, was involved in the music scene of the era. He helped discover groups like The Pretenders, Adam & The Ants and The Cure.
PEACE, BRO(...)
The history of the poster ranges from Euro influences through the concurrent American masters.

This book is about art created starting in the 1960s.

For me, this is a picture book, starting with the front and back covers in the stark bright primary colors of red, green, gold, orange, and magenta in wriggling shapes that resolve into an eye. Finally I see the center is the book title.

That's how it was in 1966, when I saw a poster tacked to a San Francisco telephone pole. Wow, look at the colors! Being of the same value, they blink, optically dancing. These effects had been avoided in previous art as "clashing" or "distracting". True, sometimes the who, what, when, where information was hard to find and read. Remember, these posters were ads for events. We took the posters down and lived surrounded with them on our walls. Just as fast, the posters reappeared. They seemed to be as free as our spirits were then. Mine are gone, lost or stolen. But the art entered my psyche permanently.

I got the book in 1999 having been lured into the Virgin Megastore by smoke rings floating out over Union Square into New York City. Some people didn't like the rings even though nicotine use was not required for the high. If you are like that, you probably won't like this book.

The book is a lasting trip based on creative, unique, beautiful art posters. These posters' history is like that of Japanese woodcuts. The mention of Dylan in another review sent me to the index which listed three pages, not including the full page poster. There is no list of illustrations. This book is best for browsing.

I have used this book as a "muse" for my art because the colors are exceptional and without any drug use I feel I have had an all natural mind blowing -- expansive and inspiring journey!!!!!!!

The sixties poster art imagery has become a staple of the fashion industry right now so it means even more to me to page thru this beautiful book and look at representations of authentic expression rather than a t- shirt. "High Art -- A History of the Psychedelic Poster" is rich in colorful expressions like the music of the time. This book give you the economic, political and essentials to understand the context, substance of depth that inspired the creativity! The book includes "The New Wave" and they are fun (example a poster for Hole) but the psychedelic art is in a league of it's own with Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and Dylan posters-- my personal favorites. Stanley Mouse and Rick Griffin are some of the shining stars. The Dylan poster "Blowing in The Mind" by Martin Sharp for Big O is pure energy . There are a couple of Big Brother and the Holding Co. images but I wish there was one that highlights Janis Joplin. How ironic the new hip pricey t-shirt industry has embraced Janis! David Vaughn's Psychedelic Buick is stunning and owning the convertiable would be dreamy but I can enjoy the photo (page 146) minus the maintanace and parking tickets!

I have damaged my copy with my own paint splashes.

I am glad I have this book in my collection!

Wonderful collection of gig art that came to symbolise so vividly an era and became a valid and exciting artform. Showing its evolution and variations within the movement, and the inspiration for the style from the Fin de Siecle and Art Nouveau graphic trends, and where it's gone more recently, this is a must-have book not just for sentimental hippies but anyone interested in concert posters and graphic design. I return to it time and again for inspiration.

A must have visual resource for all designers,artists regardless of age, but especially for 'anyone' who came of age in the 60's. High quality printing on high quality stock, along with a solid historical documention of the time and the artists who produced this incredible work. This is worth every penny!

takes me back to the day, one of the most unique art book that i have seen for a very long time

Wow! This book was definitely written by a couple of aging hippies. The posters are great, the authors are enthusiatic, and you get a real insight into the doped out atmosphere of the late 1960's.