Smithsonian

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This poster claims “it’s summer somewhere in the world.” But there’s 91 days until summer here…not that we’re counting.

The poster, in our @amhistorymuseum’s collection, was designed by John Van Hamersveld for the 1964’s “The Endless Summer.” The movie followed two young surfers as they went around the globe in search of the perfect wave, and helped give rise to the popularity of surf culture that continues to this day.

Van Hamersveld was the art director for “Surfer” magazine and a friend of R. Paul Allen, the assistant cinematographer on the movie. He was only paid $150 for the iconic design, and Allen hired silk-screener Eric Askew to produce the poster in a garage in Costa Mesa, Calif.

#The Endless Summer #movies #movie history #poster #poster design #American history #Smithsonian #National Museum of American History #museums #summer #1964 #1960s #1960s culture #surfing #surf movie #John Van Hamersveld

2 months ago / 143 notes

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International Women’s Day poster from 1975, printed by the Women’s Graphics Collective, in our @cooperhewitt.

Four Chicago-based women designers founded the group in 1970, bringing together women designers and activists to produce art that advanced the goals of the women’s movement. More about the poster and their organization.

#international women's day #women's day #women's history month #women's history #Cooper Hewitt #design #poster #Smithsonian #museum #Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum #design museum #poster design #1970s #1975

2 months ago / 465 notes

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Airline Poster, c. 1969

This week’s Smithsonian Snapshot marks the start of summer with this 1969 airline poster.

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s collection of more than 1,300 posters focuses on advertising for aviation-related products and activities. In the mid 1900s, airline advertisements like this one from Continental Airlines promoted exotic travel destinations.

This multicolor screen print shows a Hawaiian surfer wearing orange-and-red swim trunks and pink lei. In the background a volcano hidden among a lush, green jungle explodes with a swirl of warm colors. The black lines and bright solid colors are typical of psychedelic posters from the 1960s.

The poster collection is a unique representation of the cultural, commercial and military history of aviation. It represents an intense interest in flight, both public and private, during a significant period of its technological and social development.

To learn more about aviation advertising, visit the National Air and Space Museum’s “Fly Now” online exhibition website. To view more summer-related items at the Smithsonian, visit our summer Pinterest board.

This item is one of 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens in the Smithsonian’s collection. It is not currently on display. To learn more about this item, visit the National Air and Space Museum website.

#Smithsonian Snapshot #summer #Continental Airlines #aviation #advertising #1960s #poster #travel #Hawaii #surf #ocean #National Air And Space Museum

4 years ago / 180 notes

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Posts tagged with ‘poster’