Watch American Artifact: Rise Of The American Rock Poster

American Artifact: Rise Of The American Rock Poster is a documentary film released in 2009, directed and produced by Merle Becker. The movie is a tribute to one of America's more distinctive art forms, the rock concert poster, and explores its rise in popularity in the 1960s, particularly in San Francisco. The movie features interviews with prominent artists and collectors of the era, musicians, and industry insiders.

The film opens with a brief history of the rock concert poster culture, with the first landmark gig poster produced in 1965 for The Byrds' concert at the Fillmore Auditorium. It quickly became apparent that these posters were more than just advertising posters for concerts; they were collectible works of art in their own right, and they often had a unique style that embodied the counterculture spirit of the times. The documentary continues to trace the history of these posters, which were produced in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and were advertised in stores like Headlines and Ripple.

Throughout the film, the viewer is treated to an array of footage and still images of some of the most iconic posters. They are beautiful, colorful, and evocative of a particular era in American history. The documentary's focus is not only on the posters, but also on the people who designed them or were involved in their creation. The film features interviews with some of the most prolific rock poster artists from this era, including Stanley Mouse, Wes Wilson, Victor Moscoso, Rick Griffin, and Chuck Sperry.

The documentary covers the art's many facets, from its inception to its rise, and why it became so popular in the first place. The movie covers the use of lithography, linocut, and silkscreen painting techniques, and how they were used to create the posters. As expected, the movie also details the sociopolitical and cultural climate that fostered the psychedelic counterculture movement of the 1960s.

The interviews serve to give valuable insight into the creative process, and the attitudes of the creators. Many of the artists interviewed talk about how they were inspired by what they saw in their environment, such as the Monterey Pop and hippie happening events. The documentary showcases the different inspirations and styles that each artist had, sharing their perspectives on the art form, their peers, and their own creations. The film also includes interviews with famous musicians like Carlos Santana, who was deeply influenced by the art, as well as collectors such as Bill Graham, who was instrumental in this movement.

The documentary also explores how the art form has survived and evolved in recent times. The music industry changed drastically from the 1960s and 1970s, but the poster artistry industry has continued to thrive, though in smaller numbers. As the documentary shows, the poster art still captures the counterculture spirit of the times and continues to inspire present-day artists who have an inclination towards graphic and illustrative mediums.

In conclusion, American Artifact: Rise Of The American Rock Poster is a must-see for anyone who loves music and art. This fascinating documentary celebrates the best of the cultural and artistic innovations of the 1960s and 1970s. By exploring the history and resurgence of rock concert poster art, the film offers a compelling and entertaining study of the rebellious spirit of a particular time and place.

American Artifact: Rise Of The American Rock Poster is a 2009 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.