Crack Down Benefit Poster

(1st Printing)

“Crack Down Benefit Poster” by Arlene Owseichik, is an original, unsigned poster printed in 1986

Arlene Owseichik has designed posters for Bill Graham Presents since the 1980s and became the company’s Art Director in the early 1990s.

Working both solo and with freelance artists and photographers on design projects, the San Francisco artist collaborated with Randy Tuten on the 1992 “Laughter, Love, and Music” poster sold to raise money for the Bill Graham Memorial Fund, designed poster art for H.E.A.R. [Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers] and is a member of the Bill Graham Foundation Advisory Board.

“Bill Graham revisited his old Bronx neighbourhood in August 1986 and, appalled to see that the drug culture had effectively wiped out the local culture, foresaw a menacing problem in the crack craze.

He teamed with David Maldonado to stage a Crack Benefit in the city but scaled back plans several times since few shared his apprehension.

Ultimately, two concerts were held; one in Madison Square Garden and the other, an all-Latin show at the Felt Forum the next night.

Arlene Owseichik’s design for the Friday night concert was a stark message.”

Size: 44.45 cm (w) x 52.70 cm (h)