Arnold Skolnick was an artist and designer who created the iconic Woodstock poster.
- Died: June 15, 2022 (Who else died on June 15?)
- Details of death: Died in Amherst, Massachusetts at the age of 85.
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An unforgettable image
Skolnick was working in advertising when he was asked by Woodstock Ventures to design a poster for the festival. He was the second to attempt the poster; the first, a psychedelic design featuring nudity, had been rejected. Skolnick wasn’t a fan of the trendy psychedelic art of the day, so he embraced simplicity with his cut-paper artwork of a bird, a hand, and a guitar. The poster, reading “3 Days of Peace & Music,” became one of the most recognizable symbols of the late 1960s. Skolnick was also known for designing book covers. One of his best-known cover designs was for Ralph Nader’s 1971 book, “What to Do with Your Bad Car,” featuring a lemon on wheels. Skolnick also created art that was shown in galleries in New York, Massachusetts, and beyond.
Skolnick on attending Woodstock
“It was beyond belief. 450,000 people? When was the last time you saw 450,000 people in one place? The energy was fantastic; the only downer was it started raining.” —from a 2019 interview for the Republican
Tributes to Arnold Skolnick
Full obituary: Daily Hampshire Gazette
