George Clinton, 1996
Artwork and commentary By Jim Phillips

“For this George Clinton show, I aimed once again for the classic rock poster, where the lettering happens to be something else, like a feathered headdress. Notice how the date turns into a design, matched by P of the Funk variety, all in symmetry and balance. The model here was the silent screen star Barbara Lamar, later identified solely by a Japanese visitor named Junko. I was amazed, and when I asked how she knew, she replied, ‘I study your culture!’ The Clinton poster must have clicked, because it has been my most popular item at poster shows. I did get in a little trouble though. I was invited to meet George backstage, and I exclaimed that I was that show’s poster artist. Clinton said, ‘What poster?’ He obviously hadn’t seen it. So I trotted back to Boots’ office where there was a stack of press sheets. I took two, ran back and proudly gave them to George, who was stoked to see them. I thought I was doing a positive thing for the Hall, but when I announced my good deed, I caught hell for stealing them. The show was over, and I wasn’t about to track down George and ask for them back, so I had to bring in two sheets that I had from the printing press check.”

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