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Through a symmetrical arch that defines the central prime focus, we see the prevailing influence of Art Deco design in David Singer’s work. From the center of the composite image of an illustrated man emerging from a snail shell flows a fluid piece of a photographic portrait, highlighting a kohl-rimmed eye. With this piece, David Singer is clearly influenced by the well-known Surrealist photographer Dora Maar—specifically her iconic work titled “Untitled (Hand Shell)” from 1934, which consists of a woman's hand emerging from a snail shell, achieved through skillful darkroom compositing techniques. Not only does the snail shell seem to reference this famous Surrealist artist and artwork, but the eye is a symbol shared by Surrealist and psychedelic artists as a reference to the inner world of the psyche.Label Type
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David Singer was born and raised in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, surrounded by the Pennsylvania Dutch culture. He was exposed to very intricate folk art, and David Singer gravitated towards it. From an early age, Singer was very creative, and artistically gifted. After he graduated high school, he enlisted in the Navy and served until 1964, then settled in San Francisco. After working many odd jobs, Singer found himself meeting with Bill Graham, the founder and promoter of the iconic Fillmore West music venue, to review his portfolio. After twenty minutes of silently studying Singers’ work, Graham immediately commissioned Singer to create twelve new posters. This launched his career with full force—David Singer was commissioned the most work out of all of the iconic Fillmore West Rock poster artists, creating a total of sixty posters for Bill Graham between 1969-1971.