Summer Of Love – The Posters [Rick Griffin]

Posted over 2 years ago

Artist:

Quicksilver Messenger Service
Album:

Happy Trails
Track:

Who Do You Love (Part 1)

Rick Griffin was the King. Like Mouse, he came from the surf community and drawing cartoons for Surfer magazine. He'd also spent time in the hot-rod community, reworking pinstriper Von Dutch's all-seeing eye to monumental effect in his most famous poster. Sadly, he was killed in a motorcycle accident.You can see a full run of Fillmore and Avalon posters "here" and "here".

Griffin was deeply Christian and his imagery is highly symbolic. Here, the all-seeing eye is opening a portal from Hell to Heaven beyond. [Feb '68]

Jimi Hendrix, round two. [Oct '68]

Variation on a theme. [Oct '68]

'Psychedelic' means mind-expanding. Know your religious imagery and this is ripe with symbolism. [Jan '68]

Rick was also adept at other styles. [Oct '67]

Comments (9)

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deadmandeadman says Are you tryin' to kick off some flashbacks here, John? Very nice artwork to look at after a wake n bake! LOL

Permalink posted 07/15/2007
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ivylander says Amazing how his style is immediately recognizable after all these years. Especially considering the conditions under which they were first viewed.

Permalink posted 07/15/2007
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contrabandwidth says I'm pretty sure he did the Grateful Deads "Aoxomoxoa" (sp?) album cover too. Definitely supplied some of the staple imagery to Dead t-shirts (bootleg ones). I'm an artist and love links and posts like this. In fact you've inspired me to post on some of my favorite current posters. Look out for it.

Permalink posted 07/15/2007
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dermahrk says I love that you're posting this artwork on MOG. I used to own a few hundred underground comix and Rick Griffin was present in some of them. But I have to say, the poster work seems to be the most impressive of everything I've seen.

Permalink posted 07/15/2007
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Jonh Ingham says Contra - Yes, he did do the Aoxomoxoa album cover. And I now remember that Mouse/Kelly came up with the skeleton and roses image for the Dead as well. Dermahrk - That sounds like an impressive collection!

Permalink posted 07/15/2007
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B42 says I tripped upon this awhile ago, RICK GRIFFIN painting a bus in PACIFIC VIBRATIONS 1970

Permalink posted 07/15/2007
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contrabandwidth says Great vid. Thanks for posting it!

Permalink posted 07/15/2007
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Jonh Ingham says Is there anything not on YouTube? (Except what The Man takes down?)

Permalink posted 07/16/2007
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uncle creepy says Yeah, there were some cool animated cartoons by Moscoso that were taken down off YT. I met all the underground artists just about, and I have to say Rick Griffin was the nicest of the bunch.

Permalink posted 06/09/2008