Jerry Garcia’s 80th Birthday Celebration | MakersPlace Blog

“A line on paper is like a note in the air” — Jerry Garcia

Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jerry Garcia was best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead, the rock band for which he served as de facto leader for 30 years, from 1965 until his death in 1995. 

But Garcia was nearly as prolific an artist as he was a musician, having attended the San Francisco Art Institute and eventually creating over 2,000 pieces. At 17, Garcia considered himself “an artist who played music.” Though he took an extended break from visual art, he immersed himself once again starting in 1983, mainly working with drawing, ink paintings, and watercolor.

Even less well known is that Garcia was an early adopter of Macintosh computers as a means of creating digital art, of which he was at the forefront.  

According to artist and archivist Roberta Weir, “Jerry always had his sketchbooks with him. He filled them with the notes and drawings that have become some of his most familiar works. He wasn’t interested in attracting more public attention or painting for an audience but was doing it purely, uninhibitedly, indulgently, for himself.”

Garcia’s artistic practice is characterized by a playful energy and a palette of intensely bright colors to depict the people, animals, landscapes, and psychedelic expressions inspired by The Dead’s relentless touring schedule and Garcia’s passion for environmental preservation and protection. 

With that passion in mind, 3% of proceeds from this Drop will go to supporting the mission of the Jerry Garcia Foundation. And MakersPlace will cover all costs associated with carbon offsets through its partnership with leading sustainability platform Aerial.

The Drop

Mandolin Player

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Birdland 

Reluctant Dragon