Arnold Skolnick
Arnold H. Skolnick (February 25, 1937, Brooklyn, New York) is an American graphic artist and book publisher. He also created the original 1969 Woodstock poster.[1] He currently resides in Easthampton, MA.
1969 Woodstock poster
Arnold Skolnick's 1969 Woodstock poster showed a white dove 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 has won many awards and many of his design solutions have become famous, perhaps his 1969 and his 40th anniversary Woodstock posters are his most famous.[2]
Book publishing
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.
Film
Skolnick worked on titles and credits for 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).
Artist
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.
Gallery exhibitions
- 2017 Eyes of Western Massachusetts, Colson Gallery, Eastworks, Easthampton, MA
- 2017 Light Touch, Nudes In White Charcoal, Elusie Gallery, Easthampton, MA
- 2014 Spinoza's God: Paintings by Arnold Skolnick, Elizabeth Moss Gallery, Falmouth, Maine
- 2011 Color and Rhythm, Paintings by Arnold Skolnick, Elizabeth Moss Gallery, Falmouth, Maine
- 2010 Antique and Artisan Center, Stamford, CT
- 2008 Love Song: The Erotic Photographs of Arnold Skolnick, Babcock Galleries, New York
- 2008 Love Song: The Erotic Photographs of Arnold Skolnick, Michelson Gallery, Northampton, MA
- 2008 Landscape Paintings & Drawings, Oxbow Gallery, Northampton, MA
- 2006 Nudes and Still Life, Paintings & Drawings,(with Robert Aller, photographer), Oxbow Gallery, Northampton, MA
- 2005 Earth, Water, Sky (paintings & photographs), Painter Arnold Skolnick and Photographer Robert Aller, Oxbow Gallery, Northampton, Ma
- 2004 Members Group Show (Paintings), Oxbow Gallery, Northampton, MA
- 1976 Rolly Michaux Galleries, New York, NY
Articles and reviews
- Hennessy, Christina, "Woodstock poster designer's paintings on exhibit in Stamford", Stamford Advocate, Friday, October 15, 2010
References
- In french : Grégoire Leménager, Le miracle Woodstock, L'Obs (issn:0029-4713), n°2852, 4 au 10 juillet 2019, total pages:73 à 77, page:75
- "Woodstock Story Interview with Arnold Skolnick"