Venues
Events
MediaLocal Culture
What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been
Grateful Dead exhibit hits NYC
Photo: The New York Historical Society
| | More
Are you a deadhead? Do you like the feeling of nostalgia? If so, there is an exhibit that will make your head spin. The New York Historical Society is holding the first large-scale exhibition of The Grateful Dead archive. The band is best known for their spontaneous jam sessions but they are also well respected for their interesting visual art. The archive covers The Grateful Dead’s artistic explorations from 1965-1995. The exhibit not only displays their art collection but it also showcases relics such as posters, videos, newsletters and programs. It also touches base on the band’s influences. Did I mention that the exhibit also has the life-sized skeleton props that were used in the band’s Touch of Gray music video and Jerry Garcia’s beloved rosebud guitar?
The Grateful Dead: Now Playing at The New York Historical Society, takes us back to the 1960s, the decade in which the band was formed in California. During this time, the San Francisco hippie culture began to make its mark in the states. With the bloom of the ‘flower’ generation, it was another rapidly growing lifestyle . This new rage is popularly known as the psychedelic drug days, with The Grateful Dead played a walloping part. The influence of the two cultures is strongly seen in the band’s album covers and music.
One of the works deadheads are most acquainted with is the Steal Your Face logo. It was designed by Owsley Stanley and Bob Thomas. The logo features a white skull and taking over much of it is a circle. A white lightning bolt divides the circle leaving the colors red (right) and blue (left) on either side. While acid trips inspired The Grateful Dead, the band’s name itself had a large role in their visual art. Skulls and skeletons make their presence throughout the archive. Visiting the The Grateful Dead: Now Playing at The New York Historical Society is a great way to pay homage to one of the influential bands ever to emerge from this country.