Psychedelic, Dude

1966 poster created by Kelley & Mouse

I broke my promise about posting at least one blog per week but I'm sure all my avid readers, which I think is up to a prodigious 2, will understand.

I'm spending the day today listening to my seemingly endless Grateful Dead playlist; a virtual Grateful Dead music marathon. Not an unusual occurrence for me, but I've dedicated today's musical foray to the memory of the Grateful Dead's frontman, Jerry Garcia, on what would have been his 69th birthday.

So in keeping with the spirit of this dedication, I'm posting this blog about the work of two of the artists best connected to the Grateful Dead and the Psychedelic Art scene of the 1960's, Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse.

I'm sure many of you have seen their iconic poster illustrations. As a child of the not-quite-but-wish-I-had-been-and-was-only-one-generation-late-Sixties, I missed out on witnessing first-hand the rise and dominance of the counterculture and the resulting impact it had on music, literature and art. Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse were among the artists that were influenced by this generation. Who are Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse, you ask? Let me put it this way; anytime you envision popular art of the psychedelic scene the images that come to mind are of these swirling, free-flowing lines and bright colors that form images that also form words and vice versa. That's in large part thanks to Kelley and Mouse. Now, isn't that a trip?

Merlin and Nimue by Beardsley. c. 1893-4

Kelley and Mouse's work wasn't only influenced by the music and drug scene going on around them, but very obviously the work of past illustrators and art styles. The Art Nouveau period, which was a result of the Industrial Revolution, played a major role in the kind of designs Kelley and Mouse created (reference: http://www.nga.gov/feature/nouveau/exhibit_intro.shtm). One of the most common comparisons to their work is that of Aubrey Beardsley.


When looking at both styles, you can see a lot of similarities in line and form. Even down to the typography. (One of the influences on Aubrey Beardsley, incidentally, was Japanese art and I plan on delving more into that in a later post.) But Beardsley wasn't their only influence. Other artists and art movements that inspired their work included Toulouse-Lautrec, Art Deco, Asian artistry (as previously mentioned) and Bauhaus.

Kelley's and Mouse's style helped define the youth culture and the creative scene of their time. I, for one, have always loved their work. But being a dead-head, I guess that makes me somewhat biased. So, in closing I just want to say happy birthday, Jerry; rest in peace.

For more information:
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=91208912
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91208912&ft=1&f=1039
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/arts/design/04kelley.html
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=24587
http://www.mousestudios.com/
http://concertposterstore.com/alton_kelley_information
http://www.dead.net/features/news/legendary-artist-alton-kelley-passed-away
http://www.victorianweb.org/art/illustration/beardsley/works.html