Buffalo Springfield Handbill
Lee Conklin was "... getting into yoga..." in 1968, and the reclining figure in BG122 has a ten-toe choir because the meditating artist "... felt my toes tingle and sing." The artwork is similar to the pencil sketch drawing of his first poster for Bill Graham, but this time included a purple overlay in the printing process. Although Buffalo Springfield was listed on the poster, the band had called it quits earlier in the month and ended up cancelling this appearance with Bill Graham.
The handbill measures 4 5/8" x 7 1/8" and displays a calendar of upcoming Bill Graham events on the reverse. It was printed before the concert.
There were also some pre-concert double-sized mailers printed that were conjoined with the BG121 image (see BG121/122). They measure 4 5/8" x 14 1/4".
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.