Blotter art: originally was an art form printed on perforated sheets of absorbent blotting paper infused with liquid LSD. The delivery method gained popularity after banning the hallucinogen LSD in the late 1960s. Graphics on blotter sheets originated as an underground art form in the early 1970s, sometimes to help identify the dosage, maker, or batch of LSD. Blotter art frequently incorporates themes common to psychedelic art, using bright, contrasting colors and repeating patterns in its designs. Cartoon characters were often exhibited, and many examples contain religious and mystical imagery or pay homage to figures in the psychedelia subculture.

The Photographer: Herb Greene took the concept of real LSD Blotter and printed some of his most iconic images on blotter paper without adding LSD! Herb moved to the San Francisco Bay area in the 1960’s. He ended up teaming with hippies and musicians in the Haight Asbury neighborhood. One day, he met Jerry Garcia at a bluegrass café, and the two became friends. Greene booked a portrait session with Garcia’s band, The Warlocks, later renamed the Grateful Dead. Greene became friends with many of the era’s musicians and photographed many. 

The Dead: This iconic photograph of The Grateful Dead was taken by Herb Green at the crossroads of Haight and Ashbury, just around the corner from their house – 710 Ashbury. Herbie has published this in many forms. He first released it as a limited-edition silver gelatin print. Then he collaborated with our gallery and made a serigraph-litho in sepia tones of the same image. This blotter rendition of the image has flames added to the surrounding automobiles and a Steal Your Face image superimposed onto the sidewalk. It is Herb’s tribute to 50 years of the Grateful Dead. 

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