The Sixties was an era arguably unrivaled in its creative and cultural upheaval. New music, new attitudes, new ideas and new forms of expression were blossoming out of a time rife with political and social tension. You can clearly see this transformation reflected in the artwork of the time — particularly in the posters and handbills from concerts, demonstrations and more. The Bynx collection is filled with such examples. Let’s look at a few 1960’s posters in particular.
Radical Imagery
The difference between artwork from the 1950s and 1960s is almost jarring (LSD is a helluva drug). The 1960’s posters especially highlight a new form of artistry taking hold: psychedelia was beginning to imprint itself on the populous. Its trippy visuals — including vibrant colors, kaleidoscopic and fractal patterns, morphing imagery, and so on — became a hallmark of the artwork coming out of the music scene and beyond.
Take this 1960s poster from one of The Doors’ concerts, printed at the famous Saladin Head Shop by the renowned poster artist Bob Wendell. It has many of the classic 1960s visual features, including trippy font and interesting colors, with flowing imagery that forces the viewers to look closer.
Next, look at the following 1960s poster from a Big Brother and the Holding Company show. Yet again, the imagery is strikingly unique and different. Words blend into the patterns, making them difficult to distinguish, while the colors are bold and pop off the page. Not to mention the naked lady prominently featured. A penchant for nudity and romanticizing the feminine body was not a particularly novel concept in the 1960s — however, it saw a significant resurgence during the sexual revolution that was taking place at that time.
“As psychedelic as possible”
The relationship between art, music and psychedelics in the 1960s cannot be understated. It was a part of the cultural milieu, a way for people to expand their consciousness and simultaneously give a big f-you to “the man.” After the 60s, the popularity of LSD, which was arguably the most widely-used psychedelic, waned significantly. Nevertheless, it continued to inspire artists (and still does to this day).
Check out this poster to the right, which features the phrase, “Don’t Fight, Flow Right.” It’s an unofficial, “alternative”, 1970 Isle of Wight Festival poster. Freelance artist John Wright (with an instruction for it to be designed “as psychedelic as possible”) designed the poster. Over 1,000 were printed, however, only a few were actually sold. Many more were accidentally destroyed that weekend, but 150 copies survived; stashed away by the designer, and forgotten about, until they were rediscovered twenty years later. Needless to say, this poster is an amazing relic from the close of the psychedelic era and does a good job of visually summarizing that incredibly rich period of human creativity.
Browse the 1960s Posters Collection at Bynx
The 1960s fascinate us. No matter how much you listen to the music, read the literature, watch the movies — it’s no odds. There’s always something new to discover. As the 1960s posters highlight — very well I might add — the 60s were a radical time, and one that still seems surreal to this day.
Check out our collection os 1960s ephemera, including our music posters and handbills, as well as other counter-culture goodies.
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