Sculptural Visions vs. Mind-Bending Immersions: Günther Kieser and the San Francisco Psychedelic Poster

The groundbreaking concert posters of Günther Kieser invite comparison with another extraordinary artistic movement that emerged in San Francisco during the late 1960s. Join Poster House for an evening with poster collector and historian Ted Bahr, who will explore the similarities—and the profound differences—between Kieser’s powerful graphic interpretations of musicians like Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead and the revolutionary work of San Francisco psychedelic poster artists. Kieser’s posters are iconic visual statements that capture the essence of the performers they promoted, and psychedelic artists attempted to recreate the sensory, emotional, and cultural experience of each concert, inviting viewers to become participants rather than simply spectators. Which approach was more fruitful, which was more accessible and—more importantly—how do we define design success? Embark on a visual journey through two of the most innovative traditions in poster history—and be prepared to experience a remarkable collection of unforgettable design. Doors open at 6:15. Ted Bahr missed the 1967 Summer of Love in San Francisco but has made up for it by becoming a dedicated historian of the period and a major collector of psychedelic posters. Bahr retired from a career in business-to-business media in 2017, and in 2018 he opened the Bahr Gallery in Oyster Bay, NY, dedicated to vintage first-printing psychedelic rock posters. Pieces from the Bahr collection have been shown at the New York Historical, the Nassau County Art Museum, and the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, MA. Bahr is currently working on a documentary, San Francisco’s Big Five and the Psychedelic Poster Revolution, to be released in early 2027—the 60th anniversary of the Summer of Love. Accessibility Note: Masks are available free of charge at the museum. Assistive listening devices and stools are available. ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is also available upon request. Please contact [email protected] or (914) 295-2387 to request interpretation services and to address any other accessibility needs. For other event-related questions, please contact [email protected].