Chuck Sperry

Chuck Sperry

Chuck Sperry lives in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, where he’s made his particular style of rock poster designs for over 20 years. He operates Hangar 18, a silkscreen print studio, located in Oakland.

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Garbage at the Warfield 10/1 & Shpongle at the Warfield 10/5 – Hurricane Sandy Benefit Releases

Garbage at the Warfield, October 1, 2012

Firehouse-Goldenvoice No. 165

15 x 22.5

Edition of 125

3 colors on archival cream paper

Signed and Numbered

SOLD OUT – Thank You!

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A portion of my proceeds from this release have been donated to the American Red Cross.

Shpongle presents The Masquerade at the Warfield, October 5, 2012

Firehouse-Goldenvoice No. 166

16.75 x 22.5

Edition of 125

3 colors on archival cream paper

Signed and Numbered

SOLD OUT – Thank You!

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A portion of my proceeds from this release have been donated to the American Red Cross.

Shpongle / Garbage Uncut Variant

35 x 23

Edition of 20

3 colors on archival cream paper

Signed and Numbered

SOLD OUT – Thank You!

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A portion of my proceeds from this release have been donated to the American Red Cross.

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Here are the final two designs I worked on last month – while working on my presentation for Trimarchi, the largest design conference of it’s kind in the Spanish speaking world. Steeped in the amazing psychedelic poster art of Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley, Wes Wilson, Victor Moscoso, Rick Griffin – and having the original Mouse/Kelley 13th Floor Elevator poster framed and hanging on my drawing studio wall for twenty years – I made this as a very tongue-in-cheek parody of that poster. I liked that Gary Grimshaw (making a poster for the Grande Ballroom) and Mouse/Kelley (making a poster for the Avalon Ballroom) had coincidentally drawn from the same source photo in Life magazine. I felt it would be interesting to draw the syllogism into my own re-contextualization of the same source in the 21st Century. I altered the source image into a portrait of Shirley Manson, lead singer of Garbage. I invented a parody of the Family Dog logo with one of my masonic zombie shriners which says: “The Snot-nose Kid Pays Homage to Mouse • Kelley.”

Photo source: “Art of the Dead” soon to be published book by Phil Cushway

As an illustration of why this release demands a benefit to the American Red Cross and hurricane Sandy relief, here is a photo of Stanley Mouse and I calmly texting friends and family as we are being evacuated from our hotel in Manhattan which was directly under the infamous damaged construction crane many of you, no doubt, saw on CNN.

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Jane’s Addiction at the Warfield

Jane’s Addiction at the Warfield, October 18, 2012

Firehouse-Goldenvoice No. 167

20 x 25

Edition of 125

3 colors on red linen textured paper

Signed and Numbered

Sold Out – Thank You!

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I’ll be making a very limited release of this poster on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at a random time. A portion of my proceeds from this release will be donated to the American Red Cross.

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My Jane’s Addiction poster is a result of working on my two hour, powerpoint illustrated, presentation for Latin-America’s biggest design conference, Trimarchi in Mar del Plata, Argentina, which I delivered on October 13, 2012. There, I presented my work and offered detailed reference to my influences in the work of San Francisco artists, Wes Wilson, Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley, Victor Moscoso, Rick Griffin, Lee Conklin, Bonnie MacLean and Gary Grimshaw. I also made explicit reference to Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt, Alfred Roller, Koloman Moser and the Vienna Secession. I was given access to include in my presentation a myriad of high resolution images of these artists’ work through Phil Cushway, who is in the process of compiling “The Art of the Dead,” which he will be debuting later this year or early next. Phil was very generous in allowing me to preview these images to the largest Spanish speaking design conference in the world, which are reserved for his book, but did so, as he said, because my guidance and sharing with him of my understanding of the roots of the San Francisco poster tradition were crucial to the main theme and thrust of his forthcoming book.

Looking at all that amazing poster art work resulted in my Jane’s Addiction poster, a depiction of the Golden Goose, in three colors. It draws equally from all these traditions and pushes them into the 21st Century. I achieved a vibrant Eye-Fry by printing a thick layer of light blue directly onto the red paper it visually reacts with (instead of using a red ink against blue ink as I have in the past). The gold and silver overlays and react in surprising ways with the textured blue ink and on the red linen textured paper. I’m very happy with the result!

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Well, I’m back from hurricane Sandy, and back from Argentina too. It’s been a long strange trip! My book, designed in Argentina by Porco Magazine and published by Last Gasp for American release, is also starting to arrive in the warehouse; I’m having the American edition sent bit by bit to economize on weight restrictions. So it will all arrive relatively soon, and be ready for release soon too. I’m super stoked by the result! Here’s a preview of Last Gasp’s catalog / release information to be announced:

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I’ll be making a full report on my trip to Argentina next week, and also I’ll post about my experiences in New York during the devastating hurricane.

I’m saddened by the loss of life, and the destruction left by hurricane Sandy. That said, I was also deeply inspired by the strength and resilience of New Yorkers and all of those on the Eastcoast in the face of such a huge disaster! Having gone through the hurricane myself, I felt proud to be walking shoulder to shoulder with such amazing people through the thick of this monster storm. New Yorkers met nature’s fury with humor, intelligence and resolve. If Super-storm Sandy was a precursor of climate change and an example of the wrath we should come to expect from our rising seas, then the response exemplified by the inhabitants of New York City should be remembered as the correct way to respond with humanity and strength.

I have two more posters coming from the Firehouse Goldenvoice series – for shows that occurred at the Warfield while I was away. I’ll be revealing those later this next week. A portion of my proceeds from all three releases will be donated to the American Red Cross.

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The Rock Poster Society • Festival of Posters • Release Information

San Francisco’s annual Fall Clas­sic, the TRPS Fes­ti­val of Rock Posters is set to go for Sat­ur­day Octo­ber 13th, 2012 at the San Fran­cisco County Fair Build­ing (aka Hall of Flow­ers) in beau­ti­ful Golden Gate Park.

Fea­tur­ing rock poster artists and deal­ers from around the coun­try, this is the biggest rock poster event of its kind any­where. Those of you who have attended this show in the past know that this is the one not to miss. We bring in the best of the best, and you’ll find every­thing from vin­tage psy­che­delic trea­sures to the best of the mod­ern silkscreen move­ment. This year’s ver­sion promises to offer another stel­lar lineup.

The loca­tion is at the cor­ner of Ninth and Lin­coln on the South edge of the Park, not far from the Haight, the DeY­oung Museum, and the Acad­emy of Sci­ences. There are plenty of great restau­rants close by, too. Make it a week­end and bring the fam­ily to enjoy the great weather, an awe­some poster event, and every­thing else San Fran­cisco has to offer.

I won’t be able to attend due to my tour of Argentina, but I will have a presence there, thanks to TRPS member Ben Clarke, who will man my booth. He and Derrick Brickert expertly helped me handle the booth last year, so you will be in good hands.

Truth is, while TRPS is going on, I’ll be presenting the story of the San Francisco Rock Poster Tradition to the largest design conference in Latin-America. So while you are here in San Francisco experiencing our Great Rock Poster Tradition; I’ll be in Buenos Aires, spreading the word, sharing our history of the rock poster from 1965 to the present. Many of TRPS’ artist line-up will be represented in my presentation. So throw me your supportive thoughts while “San Francisco Represents” in the Southern Hemisphere.

I have some surprises to offer exclusively at TRPS on Saturday, October 13, 2012 (and there will be more surprises at the booth at show time):

Gov’t Mule Speckled Egg Edition

17.5 x 33.5

Edition of 13

6 colors on speckled egg paper

Signed and Numbered

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Gov’t Mule Brushed Green Edition

17.5 x 33.5

Edition of 13

6 colors on brushed green paper

Signed and Numbered

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Edward Sharpe Navy Blue Edition

17.5 x 33.5

Edition of 11

6 colors on navy blue metallic paper

Signed and Numbered

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These will only be offered exclusively at TRPS on Saturday, October 13, 2012.

 

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Chuck Sperry in Argentina Tour 2012

I’m leaving on Tuesday for Argentina for my first ever tour in Latin America. I’m getting really excited! The tour was initiated and organized by Santiago Pozzi and Alan Berry Rhys of Porco art magazine. Santiago worked with me and Ron Donovan as an intern for three months at the end of 2011. As a very cool and generous sign of gratitude, Santiago organized this tour of Argentina. And did he ever organize an amazing series of events, together with his partner Alan of Porco magazine.

Here’s a brief calendar of my exhibitions and presentations in Argentina.

I will begin by speaking at the next Trimarchi DG (12-14 October) in the city of Mar del Plata, in what will be one of the most important design events in Latin America. Artists and designers from nearly every Latin American country will be in attendance as I’ll address 3500 or more people at the design conference shown below.

I’m announcing here for the first time, that I will have a new book, called “High Volume, The Art of Chuck Sperry,” a 98 page, full-color book, in parallel Spanish and English language, with 65+ poster images from the last 20 years, and focussed on the output of the last five years. “High Volume” is printed in Argentina by Porco, and will be distributed in the US by Last Gasp, and in South America by Porco Mag. Books will be shipped to the United States, and will be available when I return. In addition to it’s distribution by Last Gasp in the US, and by Porco Mag in South America – and I’ll be making “High Volume” available on my website in November. You’ll have to wait for my announcement when I return.

Never known for following the consensus of any art establishment, Chuck Sperry has a strict loyalty to his craft, and has become a leading innovator of the rock poster art form.  His suspicion and disdain for mainstream American politics often characterizes his approach to making art.   With a sincere dedication to a broad public audience, Sperry reflects a social consciousness and draws much from the immediate urban environment. — Renee de Cossio, curator, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

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On Thursday, October 18 at 7 pm, I will presenting my new book – it’s debut. I’ll be giving a talk in the Cabrera area of Buenos Aires with a keynote slide presentation of my poster art.

In the afternoon before my debut of “High Volume,”  I’ll be conducting a silkscreen workshop with Sanitago Pozzi of Imprenta Chimango sponsored by Porco Mag, at 3 pm. Those interested in attending must write to: [email protected].

The next day, Friday, October 19, at 6.30 pm at the theater of the Youth Centre (General Manuel Belgrano 950, Rosario), Rosario headquarters of my exhibition will be inaugurated. I’ll appear and will be giving a talk at 7 pm. Attendees will be able to purchase “High Volume,” and of course, I’ll be on-hand to sign my book.

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One last word: about my Argentina Tour poster shown at the head of this article, I’ll be making a limited silkscreen edition of this poster, when I return. It is being produced in an offset version in Argentina to be used on the street as promotion. I’ll be quite busy until the end of this year – given all the projects on my plate – so my silkscreen edition of this poster is scheduled for mid December – just so you know – this poster will be available at a future date.

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La agenda de muestras y presentaciones en Argentina de Chuck Sperry, fundador junto a Ron Donovan del estudio “The Firehouse”, viene algo apretada. Empezará como conferencista en el próximo Trimarchi DG (del 12 al 14 de octubre) en la Ciudad de Mar del Plata, en lo que será uno de los eventos de diseño más importantes de latinoamérica.

Unos días más tarde, el jueves 18 de octubre a las 19hs estará presentando su libro y dando una charla en el Espacio Cabrera, inaugurando una de las muestras que tiene proyectadas. Además tiene programado un workshop coorganizado entre Porco Mag y su referente argentino Imprenta Chimango para el mismo día a las 15hs, los interesados en asistir deberán escribir a [email protected].

Al día siguiente, a las 18.30hs en el galpón del Centro de la Juventud (Gral. Manuel Belgrano 950, Rosario), se inaugurará la sede rosarina de la exposición. Además estará el artista en vivo, dando una charla a las 19hs donde presentará nuevamente High Volume, el libro que recopila la obra de los últimos 20 años de sus trabajos, editado por la revista porteña Porco Mag, quién además organizó esta gira.

Chuck Sperry es un artista, diseñador e ilustrador que en los últimos 20 años ha diseñado e impreso en serigrafía los posters oficiales para artistas como Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, Phoenix, Eric Clapton, Passion Pit, MGMT, Iggy Pop, Blondie, Motorhead, Ben Harper, y muchos más.

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Gov’t Mule at the Warfield, Friday, September 21, 2012

Gov’t Mule at the Warfield, September 21, 2012

Firehouse-Goldenvoice No. 164

17.5 x 33.5

Edition of 200

6 colors on archival cream paper

Signed and Numbered

Sold Out – Thank You!

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Gov’t Mule at the Warfield, September 21, 2012

Firehouse-Goldenvoice No. 164

17.5 x 33.5

Parchment Edition of 13

6 colors on parchment paper

Signed and Numbered

Sold Out – Thank You!

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Archives

Sperry Books: “Color x Color” • “Helikon” • “Chthoneon” • “Idyllion”

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