Woodstock Festival 1969 Original Location Poster from Wallkill, NY (AOR-3.2)....

Description

Woodstock Festival 1969 Original Location Poster from Wallkill, NY (AOR-3.2). An original first-printing poster from the summer of 1969 for the famous Woodstock three-day music festival in Wallkill, New York before it was moved 45 miles west to Bethel (White Lake). This beautiful poster was created by the esteemed David Byrd, and is nicely signed by him in the center artwork, "19 = David Edward Byrd = 69." This poster is much more intricate and sophisticated than the red poster which was eventually used for the final location. None of the musicians are given, but the luscious artwork more closely matched the "Music & Art Fair" theme of the festival. Made on glossy cardstock, this poster measures 13 1/2" x 22 3/8" and grades to Very Good condition. COA from Heritage Auctions.

Literature: See Grushkin, Paul, The Art of Rock: Posters from Presley to Punk, Abbeville Press, New York, 1987, p.257 (illus.).

More Information: It's interesting to note how Byrd's original design went completely for the "art fair" ethos of the Woodstock festival, whereas Arnold Skolnick's red replacement poster emphasized the music by listing all the bands and musicians. Byrd used just 16 words but gorgeous stained-glass-window artwork to get his message across; Skolnick used hundreds of words and simple, childlike artwork in his design. They both are very compelling in their own way, and it's nice that collectors can line up behind whichever one they prefer.

One could say that it's a shame Byrd's version - and vision - never got "used," but his creation has lived on strongly thanks to music, poster and art collectors coveting it decades later, books reproducing it, and exhibitions of all kinds displaying it.

Condition details: The bottom third of the poster is a tiny bit ‘wavy,' like it may have gotten moist once upon a time. It still lies pretty flat, but this needs to be mentioned. Upper left corner has a tiny bump and quarter-inch diagonal crease; upper right has a harmless one-inch horizontal crease right next to the edge. The poster's bottom edge, a couple of inches in from the lower right corner, has some slight discoloration in the white margin which is also viewable on the verso. The bottom venue information also has just a little bit of surface scuffing to it.