Conklin couldn't refrain from the Bosch-like reminder that the sins of 1968 had piled up beyond recovery, a reference to the riots, police beatings, assassinations and escalating Vietnam war. His poster for the Fillmore West New Year's Eve Bash featured Vanilla Fudge, Richie Havens, the Young Bloods and Cold Blood.
The poster was only printed once before the concert. Many copies display significant "scuffed" markings as a result of how the glossy paper took the ink. It measures 14" x 21 1/8".
The 2nd printing is on coated stock and has "W 2021" in the lower right hand margin. It was printed in 2021 by Wolfgang's in a 250 copy run. This reprint measures 14" x 21".
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.