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In the late 1960s, the Vietnam War was escalating, and anti-war protests were causing low morale for the troops abroad and those who had returned. This photomontage poster was created during the height of political and societal tension. David Singer's choice of imagery acts as a form of contemporary propaganda and commentary. The ice cream cone is a symbol of morale for troops, originating in WW2. This image goes hand-in-hand with the American flag, which represents the core values of democracy. What stands out against these two is the psychedelic background of bold colors and fluid forms. The combination of these pieces may perhaps represent the merging of the counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s into what was considered traditional, defining the new generation of America while still acknowledging those roots. 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.