Lawrence of Arabia
Canvas Textured Variant Edition
22 x 33
Edition of 25
8 colors on tan canvas textured paper
Signed and Numbered
Sold Out – Thank You!
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.
By squirt
By squirt
Primus at The Warfield, December 31, 2012
Firehouse-Goldenvoice No. 172 / Primus Poster Series No. 83
16 x 22
Edition of 275
5 colors on archival cream paper
Signed and Numbered
Available tonight, December 31, 2012 through Primus at the show.
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Tonight’s Perfectly Appropriate “Frankenstein’s Masquerade New Years Ball” Poster was drawn, printed, signed, numbered & hand delivered by local San Francisco Rock Poster Artist, Chuck Sperry.
Over the past 20+ years in SF, every Primus or Claypool related New years performance has a theme. This year’s theme is “Frankenstein’s Masquerade New Years Ball.” The idea was for each of us to do an artist’s homage to Frankenstein. Each poster would be inspired by a different historic artist – and by working with the same color palette and printing the posters at the same time, we would ensure a consistent overall theme.
The Frankenstein/Picasso themed poster is 5 colors of rich oil based ink, with a metallic undercoat – and is the match for last night’s sold out poster by Zoltron (the rad artist behind the silkscreen sticker printing company, Sticker Robot). Each night’s respective poster would be inspired by a different historic artist… Zoltron chose Warhol and Chuck chose Picasso. Both were cross pollinated with Frankenstein – and this is the result.
Zoltron and I have worked together many times over the years, but usually I’m inviting Zoltron to do posters for the coveted SF, Goldenvoice Poster Series – which I have curated and produced a poster series in the rich history of San Francisco’s 1960s rock poster tradition for the Avalon Ballroom, where I design or invite artists to design and print unique posters for events at the Regency Ballroom and the Warfield Theatre.
It just so happens that the Primus Poster Series, currently landing on poster #83, and The Goldvoice Series, currently at poster # 171, are literally merging on New Years at these two Warfield Primus shows.
125 tubed copies will be available at the merch booth tonight. And 125 will sell out. Be there early to make sure to snag one!
And remember to dress up for tonight’s on stage Costume Contest!
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Here’s Zoltron’s amazing Warhol/Frankenstein’s Bride inspired poster from last night:
And both together (as printed):
Online poster release date: Friday, January 4, 2013 at a random time.
By squirt
Lawrence of Arabia – a film by David Lean
22 x 33
Edition of 200
8 colors on archival cream paper
Signed and Numbered
SOLD OUT – Thank You!
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I’ll be making a very limited release of a variant edition of this poster on Tuesday, January 1st, 2013 at a random time.
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I was honored to receive the commission from Spoke Art to create this limited edition art print in celebration of the 50th Anniversary Restoration Screening one of my all time favorite movies, “Lawrence of Arabia,” at San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre. I really dug into this design and created custom Arabian patterns and intricate motifs to embellish the enigmatic, legendary personality of T.E. Lawrence as portrayed so intensely and memorably by Peter O’Toole in David Lean’s masterpiece of film art, “Lawrence of Arabia.”
I reflect the historical period of Lawrence with this poster, through the style associated with Moorish Revival which returned to fashion in the 1920’s and (lightly) through an Egyptian mode that influenced Art Deco. These stylistic currents were part of the lexicon of art, architecture and design that surrounded the beginnings of cinematic history. Not only were these exotic themes present in the posters of the period, they were also expressed in the architecture of the movie palaces constructed at the time (even in the Castro Theatre itself). So I felt that this treatment was not only relevant, it was necessary, and would harmonize with my exploration of poster history in my art.
As a short note of interest, I made my “Lawrence of Arabia” poster in an oversized dimension of 22 x 33 inches. My intention is to make a nice male counterpoint to the Widespread Panic Season’s series.
By squirt
Here’s a video from Argentina (I had so much fun making) that gives you the sensation of the biggest, baddest art event I’ve ever had the pleasure of participating in.
I’m sharing this vid in the spirit of “Year in Review” — as a highlight of 2012. I’d give a thousand career-moves for two weeks of the love and generosity shown me in Argentina at the Trimarchi Festival in Mar del Plata, in Buenos Aires and Rosario. And in the end I think my instincts prove to be as sharp as ever, Trimarchi was the best — most life changing — invitation from the last year. I have made lasting friendships, important plans for the future with my Argentine brothers and sisters, and came home with a beautiful book to offer. Check out High Volume, right there next to this post!
I feel like I lived a full lifetime in Argentina, there was so much I experienced (And yes, sorry for the delay, I’ll be making a full post about Argentina after some New Years posters come out).
I took some time at the end of this year to recharge the batteries, make outlandish plans, meditate on what has been an incredible four year joyride with all of you devoted friends and collectors.
I took time to think about the future, and make some long needed changes at my studio. I’m solo at Hangar 18.
The colaborations at Hangar 18 will continue; I’ve just finished printing for Reuben Rude. And I’m presently in the middle of a colab with Zoltron. Meanwhile Scott Johnson has stopped by a few times to work on Mike Watt and other poster projects.
I got with the environment, and installed an environmentally safe washout area for screen preparation.
I’m consolidating my archives in a secure and controlled environment.
I acquired a second press, through Monolith Press (thanks much, Matt!) so she will start producing more art early in 2013, next to the one I’ve had for ten years (graciously acquired from Frank Kozik). With these two presses and their history, Hangar 18 is at the crossroads of San Francisco Postermaking you would expect.
So why the monthlong silence?
After going to Argentina for a whirlwind tour, stopping home for one day, and heading to New York City, little did I realize that I was heading right into the Eye of Hurricane Sandy.
Then while in New York – experiencing the hurricane – I learned of the passing of my step-mother Jody Timor, and the next journey emerged. I travelled home to Ohio to pay my respects, I took some time to see my loving family in Ohio.
Upon returning from Ohio, I made the trek by car to Seattle for the Ten Club Art and Poster Convention. I chose to go to Seattle by car, after flying across so many continents in October, because I enjoy this form of meditation, the kind of meditation that one conducts behind the wheel of a car. I reckon this kind of meditation is a uniquely American form of meditation, which has been overlooked in the anals of mediation-dom. But I prefer it to any other. Ha!
I met with so many great people in Seattle and Portland. I’ve got big plans in Portland this coming August of 2013. I’ll be making a solo retrospective — a massive showing of art from my entire career, everything I can gather — at People’s Art Portland, August 2013.
And, of course, I’ll be touring in Italy, and Europe next spring. I have a solo art exhibition with my dear friends at Mondo Bizzarro Gallery in Rome which runs from June 8 to July 10, 2013.
In Italy, I’ll be making a site-specific, large-scale installation in my dear, sweet, home-away-from-home, in my adoptive Italian village south of La Spezia — I will reveal more about this show as the time approaches — the installation is planned for mid-June.
2012 was full of journeys and new experiences from the four corners of the world. I foresee that 2013 will be full speed ahead, more travels, more to share.
2012 was a very, very good year! Let’s look forward to 2013!
And now, the good news, I’ve got some new posters coming out for the end of the year. Stay tuned.
By squirt
San Francisco Chronicle • SFGATE • December 26, 2012 • by Evan Karp
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. Learn More…
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