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Arnold Skolnick | |
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Born | Arnold H. Skolnick February 25, 1937 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Died | June 15, 2022 Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S. | (aged 85)
Occupation | Graphic Designer, book publisher |
Arnold H. Skolnick (February 25, 1937 – June 15, 2022) was an American graphic artist and book publisher.[1][2] His best known work is the original 1969 poster for the Woodstock Art and Music Fair.[3]
Skolnick's 1969 Woodstock poster showed a white catbird perched on the neck of an acoustic guitar.
Woodstock Ventures asked Skolnick to design a music and art fair poster. Skolnick's son Peter remembers watching his father cut the words and bird from paper. He also remembers his father trying different layouts. Skolnick was hired on a Thursday and delivered the poster the following Monday around 11am. Although much money has been made from Skolnick's symbol, he received only one royalty check of about $15. While Skolnick won many awards, perhaps his 1969 and his 40th anniversary Woodstock posters are his most famous.[4]
Skolnick next started Imago Imprint, a company that published, designed, and produced mostly art books. It was established in New York City and led to a number of published books such as Lightest Blues (Great Humor from the 1930s) and Paul Cadmus. His company Chameleon Books led to many more art books such as The Lyrical Constructivist: Don Gummer Sculpture, The Girl with the Watering Can, Hyman Bloom, and Times Squared (photographs by Toby Old). He also worked on projects with companies such as Carl Little, Pomegranate, Down East Books, Potter, Rizzoli, First Glance Books, and Chronicle Books.
Skolnick worked on titles and credits for the 1962 film To Kill A Mockingbird. He also worked with Linda Yellen as her assistant storyboarder, and with her on Playing for Time (1980) and Prisoner Without A Name, Cell Without A Number (1985).[citation needed]
Skolnick's drawings, paintings, and photography have been exhibited in Massachusetts at the Oxbow, Michelson & William Baczek Fine Art Galleries and in various galleries in New York City.