Grateful Dead Poster
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Artist Conklin restrained himself to a vaguely classical reference on this garish della Robia wreath of flowers, milky breasts and entangled bodies with the New Year's babe emerging from the Dead's mascot. The 1969 New Year's Eve concert, featuring perennial performers the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, It's A Beautiful Day and Santana, was held at Winterland.
The 1st printing poster was printed before the concert. Many copies display significant "scuffed" markings from the way the glossy paper took the ink. It measures 14 1/8" x 21 1/8".
The 2nd printing is on glossy cover stock and bears a Wolfgang's Vault notation in the lower right hand margin. It was printed in 2008 by the Bill Graham Archives LLC in a 500 copy run, and is larger than the other printings, measuring 20 3/8" x 31".
The 4th printing is on uncoated matte stock and has "W 2020" in the lower right hand margin. It was printed in 2020 by Wolfgang's in a 500 copy run. This reprint measures 14" x 21".
The 5th printing is on coated matte stock and has "W 2020" in the lower right hand margin. It was printed in 2020 by Wolfgang's in a 500 copy run. This reprint measures 24" x 36".
Lee Conklin's early influences were pen and ink masters Heinrich Kley and Saul Steinberg.After seeing articles featuring Wes Wilson's poster art, Conklin was inspired to visit San Francisco and show his art to Bill Graham. Conklin was soon commissioned to do posters and produced 31 original designs for the Fillmore between 1968 and 1969. Conklin rendered both graphics and calligraphy in intricate detail. What began as a personal challenge to disguise images within images and lettering soon turned into a concerted effort to turn every single letter and figure into another form, stretching the imagination to new limits.