Arnold Skolnick
Encyclopedia
Arnold H. Skolnick is an American graphic artist, book publisher, movie assistant also the creator of the original 1969 Woodstock poster.
trophies. His father, Samuel Skolnick, was a typographer at trade, while music was his passion. He played hammond organ
, piano
, harmonica
, mandolin
& ukulele
. He also sang, was a songwriter
, and poet
. The young Arnold was fascinated with pretty rainbows in the street left behind by leaking cars. This led him to want to create art for himself. While his father had been unable to make a living through the arts he did all he could to discourage his son from it as well. They were never able to see eye to eye. Although he was proud of his son in later years as Arnold became successful. Arnold graduated as an art major from The High School of Music & Art
in 1955. His schooling continued as he attended the Pratt Institute
in Manhattan
's Greenwich Village
. Upon completion he worked for Young & Rubicam
winning them 12 awards for best 'artistic' ads. While never feeling appreciated there he left to embark on his own company for as an artist his refusal to compromise his professional standards and his vision brought him out of the commercial advertising field, replacing it with art book publishing.
Woodstock Ventures contracted with Arnold to design an original music and art fair poster which was set to last for 3 days. Arnold's son Peter Skolnick remembers watching his father cut out the words & bird
from paper. His son Peter also remembers his father trying out different layouts. Arnold was hired on a Thursday and delivered the poster the following Monday at about 11am. Despite the fact that a lot of money has been made from Skolnick's symbol
, he received only one royalty check of about $15. While Arnold Skolnick's artistic ability for design and typography has led to many awards for his publications, many of his design solutions have become famous; perhaps his 1969 and his 40th anniversary Woodstock posters are his most famous.
led to a number of published books such as: Lightest Blues (Great Humor from the 1930s) and Paul Cadmus. Later his new company Chameleon Books led to many more art books such as: The Lyrical Constructivist: Don Gummer Sculpture, The Girl With The Watering Can, Hyman Bloom, Times Squared (Photographs by Toby Old). He also worked on projects with companies such as: Carl Little, Pomegranate, Down East Books, Potter, Rizzoli, First Glance Books, Chronicle Books, etc.
. He also worked with Linda Yellen
as her assistant storyboarder, and with her on Playing For Time
(1980) and Prisoner Without A Name, Cell Without A Number (1985).
.
Early life
Arnold H. Skolnick was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1937. His mother, a competitive game player, Esther Skolnick (née Plotnick) won many bridge trophies, and shuffleboardShuffleboard
Shuffleboard, more precisely deck shuffleboard, and also known as shuffle-board, shovelboard, shovel-board and shove-board [archaic], is a game in which players use broom-shaped paddles to push weighted pucks, sending them gliding down a narrow and elongated court, with the purpose of...
trophies. His father, Samuel Skolnick, was a typographer at trade, while music was his passion. He played hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
& ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
. He also sang, was a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. The young Arnold was fascinated with pretty rainbows in the street left behind by leaking cars. This led him to want to create art for himself. While his father had been unable to make a living through the arts he did all he could to discourage his son from it as well. They were never able to see eye to eye. Although he was proud of his son in later years as Arnold became successful. Arnold graduated as an art major from The High School of Music & Art
The High School of Music & Art
The High School of Music & Art, informally known as "Music & Art", was a public alternative high school at 443-465 West 135th Street, New York, New York, USA that existed from 1936 through 1984, and then merged into the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing...
in 1955. His schooling continued as he attended the Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
. Upon completion he worked for Young & Rubicam
Young & Rubicam
Y&R is a marketing and communications company specializing in advertising, digital and social media, sales promotion, direct marketing and brand identity consulting.-History:...
winning them 12 awards for best 'artistic' ads. While never feeling appreciated there he left to embark on his own company for as an artist his refusal to compromise his professional standards and his vision brought him out of the commercial advertising field, replacing it with art book publishing.
Arnold Skolnick's Original 1969 Woodstock Poster
Arnold Skolnick's 1969 Woodstock poster is a famous piece of music art of the 20th century. The Woodstock Nation was defined by the poster's image of a white dove perched on the neck of an acoustic guitar.Woodstock Ventures contracted with Arnold to design an original music and art fair poster which was set to last for 3 days. Arnold's son Peter Skolnick remembers watching his father cut out the words & bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
from paper. His son Peter also remembers his father trying out different layouts. Arnold was hired on a Thursday and delivered the poster the following Monday at about 11am. Despite the fact that a lot of money has been made from Skolnick's symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
, he received only one royalty check of about $15. While Arnold Skolnick's artistic ability for design and typography has led to many awards for his publications, many of his design solutions have become famous; perhaps his 1969 and his 40th anniversary Woodstock posters are his most famous.
Book Publishing
Skolnick next started a company that published, designed, produced mostly art books called Imago Imprint Inc. It was establlshed at 150 Fifth Avenue in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
led to a number of published books such as: Lightest Blues (Great Humor from the 1930s) and Paul Cadmus. Later his new company Chameleon Books led to many more art books such as: The Lyrical Constructivist: Don Gummer Sculpture, The Girl With The Watering Can, Hyman Bloom, Times Squared (Photographs by Toby Old). He also worked on projects with companies such as: Carl Little, Pomegranate, Down East Books, Potter, Rizzoli, First Glance Books, Chronicle Books, etc.
Film
Arnold worked on titles and credits for To Kill A MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird (film)
To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1962 American drama film adaptation of Harper Lee's novel of the same name directed by Robert Mulligan. It stars Mary Badham in the role of Scout and Gregory Peck in the role of Atticus Finch....
. He also worked with Linda Yellen
Linda Yellen
Linda Yellen is an American director, producer and writer of film and television.As a producer some of her credits include Playing for Time , The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana and Second Serve .Some of her credits as a director include Northern Lights , The Simian Line , William & Catherine:...
as her assistant storyboarder, and with her on Playing For Time
Playing for Time
Playing for Time was a BBC Television daytime quiz programme that aired on BBC One from 13 November 2000 until 2001. The programme was hosted by Eamonn Holmes.-Gameplay:The game is played in a best two-out-of-three rounds format...
(1980) and Prisoner Without A Name, Cell Without A Number (1985).
Artist
Over the years Skolnick's drawings, paintings, and photography has led to various exhibitions in Massachusetts at the Oxbow, Michelson & William Baczek Fine Art Galleries and also in various galleries in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Articles and reviews
- Hennessy, Christina, "Woodstock poster designer's paintings on exhibit in Stamford", Stamford AdvocateThe Advocate (Stamford)The Advocate is a seven-day daily newspaper based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. The paper shares a publisher and editor with the Greenwich Time; both are owned and operated by the Hearst Corporation, a multinational corporate media conglomerate with $4 billion in revenues.The Advocate circulates...
, Friday, October 15, 2010