Jerry Garcia

Jerry Garcia (Click on image above for enlargement)
Bedroom with acrylic print over bed,
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead, which came to prominence during the counterculture era in the 1960s.Though he disavowed the role, Garcia was viewed by many as the leader or "spokesman" of the group. One of its founders, Garcia performed with the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career. Garcia also founded and participated in a variety of side projects, including the Saunders–Garcia Band , the Jerry Garcia Band, Old and in the Way, the Garcia/Grisman acoustic duo, Legion of Mary, and the New Riders of the Purple Sage.

He also released several solo albums, and contributed to a number of albums by other artists
over the years as a session musician. He was well known for his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone's “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” cover story.

Having previously studied at the San Francisco Art Institute as a teenager, Garcia embarked on a second career in the visual arts in the late 1980s. He offered for sale and auction to the public a number of illustrations, lithographs, and water colors. Some of those pieces became the basis of a line of men's neckties characterized by bright colors and abstract patterns. Years after Garcia's death, new styles and designs continue to be produced and sold.


Numerous music festivals across the United States and Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK hold annual events in memory of Jerry Garcia.

Story of the “Dancing Bears”

The dancing bear is perhaps the most loved of the Grateful Dead's iconic symbols. Created for
the back cover of History of the Grateful Dead, Volume 1, artist Bob Thomas took his inspiration from a 36-point lead slug of a happy-looking bear he found in an old-fashioned printer’s font box.

Since the Grateful Dead bear's first debut on the album cover in 1970, the bear has found its way onto t-shirts, mugs, hats, ties, plush toys, and more.

According to the designer, "the bears on the album cover are not really ‘dancing’.  I don't know why people think they are, their positions are quite obviously those of a high-stepping march.”

The generic design has been used as the basis for several  commercial logos over the years. One of the best known was Bear Wheel Alignment, whose logo is almost an exact duplicate of the type-character. Bob made significant changes to the basic design when he derived it for the album.

Holiday Giclée Paper Print
22" x 17" print available only until December 15 for Holiday orders. Orders after December 15 may not arrive until after Christmas. Print has 2" border of white and is signed in the right hand bottom corner.
Special $130

Holiday Acrylic Sale Print - Special $295
20" x 16" print available only until December 8 for Holiday orders. Orders after December 8 may not arrive until after Christmas.

 
George Rothacker’s Painting of Jerry Garcia

As with most portraits of people who are no longer alive, George based
“Dancing Bear” from painting
(Click to enlarge)
his artwork on an uncredited photo of Jerry Garcia, and iconic “deadhead” cover art (including the marching bears). The original art was on designed on the computer by adapting existing lo-res images to produce vector art that could be produced in any size without degradation.

The final image produced appears much like a paper cutting, with crisp edges and flat even color and can be produced to wall size if necessary.

“Dancing Bear” from original art
(Click to enlarge)
Jerry Garcia (acrylic on canvas)
(Click to enlarge)
In addition to George's graphic abilities, he is also a painter, and his family has convinced him that in addition to merely offering acrylic and metal prints of the original graphic art, that he “paint” some of the images in acrylic on canvas. This task is tedious and offers a different “scribbier” element to the artwork.

At this time, George has painted Alice Cooper and Jerry Garcia on 40" x 30" canvases. These paintings must sell for a lot more than the “perfect prints” produced from the original art. The “canvas” art is priced at $4500 plus shipping and any tax. Paper giclée prints produced on 22" x 17" archival paper are also available of the painting (for people who are purists and believe in hand work). To purchase a painted print or the original, scroll down to  the “Add to Cart” button at the bottom right.



ACRYLIC PRINTS
METAL PRINTS
30" x 20"
$490
+ tax and shipping
40" x 30"
$980
+ tax and shipping
60" x 40"
$1940
+ tax and shipping
30" x 20"
$290
+ tax and shipping
40" x 30"
$589
+ tax and shipping
60" x 40"
$1240
+ tax and shipping
64" x 48"
$1700
+ tax and shipping

Metal prints are uniquely durable with vibrant colors, brilliant luminescent images, and exceptional detail.

They represent a new art medium for preserving photos by infusing dyes directly into specially coated aluminum sheets. Because the image is infused into the surface and not on it, your images will take on an almost magical luminescence.
The ultra-hard scratch-resistant surface is waterproof/
weatherproof and can be cleaned easily – just avoid direct sunlight.

Float Mount Hangers are attached to the back of the print, and float the print 1/2-inch off the wall when hung. Styles and selection vary based on the size of the print ordered.


Acrylic Prints are beautiful photo prints face-mounted to plexiglass with polished edges. Rock Legend Classics come standard with a pair of mounting cleats, one affixed at the manufacturer, and the other to be installed on the wall for secure, straight hanging. Prints are provided with a mounting cleat with one section that mounts to the wall, and the other installed on the print by the manufacturer. Metal prints come standard with Float Mount Hangers installed for easy hanging with nail or hanger.

Jerry Garcia Print
Number of total prints in series: 50
Number of prints still available: 49
Number of giclée prints available: 50
Number of giclée prints still available: 50

*Since freight prices vary from state to state, shipping will be provided following initial invoicing. Other sizes are available. Please CLICK HERE for price requests for different sizes, custom art, and original, hand painted art on canvas by the artist, George H. Rothacker. All prints come with a certificate of authenticity with the artists signature.