George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars Poster
For this George Clinton show, I aimed once again for the classic rock poster, where the lettering happens to be something else, like a feathered headdress. Notice how the date turns into a design, matched by P of the Funk variety, all in symmetry and balance. The model here was the silent screen star Barbara Lamar, later identified solely by a Japanese visitor named Junko. I was amazed, and when I asked how she knew, she replied, 'I study your culture!' The Clinton poster must have clicked, because it has been my most popular item at poster shows. I did get in a little trouble though. I was invited to meet George backstage, and I exclaimed that I was that show's poster artist. Clinton said, 'What poster?' He obviously hadn't seen it. So I trotted back to Boots' office where there was a stack of press sheets. I took two, ran back and proudly gave them to George, who was stoked to see them. I thought I was doing a positive thing for the Hall, but when I announced my good deed, I caught hell for stealing them. The show was over, and I wasn't about to track down George and ask for them back, so I had to bring in two sheets that I had from the printing press check. -Jim Phillips
Jim Phillips, a Santa Cruz native, is a graphic artist whose design work includes rock posters, skateboard decks and surfer T-shirts. Permanently settling in California in 1968 with his wife and new son, Phillips began designing for Bill Graham Presents and Family Dog, where he later became Art Director. Phillips has always encouraged beginning artists, and he continues to paint surfer and skateboard art, designs the infrequent poster and collaborates on various projects with his artist son, Jimbo.