latstock Collectible Contemporary Printmaking written by Christine Dodd photographed by Bruce Dodd
Flatstock is an ongoing worldwide series of trade shows displaying the works of the world’s top concert poster artists. Presented by the American Poster Institute (API), the exhibitions effectively put an end to trying to peel concert posters off walls or lampposts in the early morning after a favorite gig. Collectors now have access to affordable, gluefree, rip-free posters at venues in cities ranging from Seattle to Chicago and from Hamburg to Barcelona. The API is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to serving the poster artist community and promoting the art form. Its Flatstock shows provide the institute with a way to present fine art posters collectively while showcasing the breadth of palette, technique and styles involved. This past March ART Patron visited Flatstock 53 at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Whether you are a new or seasoned collector, Flatstock offers a unique opportunity to collect fine artists at a fraction of the cost of more established figures. Prices at Flatstock 53, for instance, ranged from $5 to $150. In addition, collectors had the opportunity to meet the artists, many of whose works celebrate favorite bands from the past as well as the present. ARTpatronmagazine.com 77