The secret messages of San Francisco's Summer of Love

Bob Schnepf, "Summer of Love/City of San Francisco," 1967. Color offset lithograph poster. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of the Gary Westford Collection, in Honor of Bob (Raf) Schnepf, 2017.7.11. © Bob Schnepf

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)While many other cities around the country were dealing with serious racial upheaval, San Francisco was incubating a new social paradigm of

Bonnie MacLean, "Yardbirds, The Doors, James Colton Blues Band, Richie Havens, July 25-30, Fillmore Auditorium," 1967. Color offset lithograph poster. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, Achenbach Foundation for Graphi

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)"It seems surprising, but I don't think the posters in the aggregate have ever really been considered as a visual expression of the San Fra

Stanley Mouse, "'Libertie,' Blood, Sweat and Tears, John Handy, Son House, March 15–17, Avalon Ballroom," 1968. Color offset lithograph poster. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)At the Summer of Love's height, more than one million posters were reportedly being printed and snatched up by Bay Area locals and farther-

Joe Gomez, "'Optical Occlusion,' Big Brother and the Holding Company, Mt. Rushmore, November 23–25, Avalon Ballroom," 1967. Color offset lithograph poster. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, Achenbach Foundation for G

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Victor Moscoso, "'Incredible Poetry Reading,' Ferlinghetti, Wieners, Meltzer, Whalen, Welch, McClure, Ginsberg, June 8, Norse Auditorium," 1968. Color offset lithograph "animated" poster. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of the

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)San Francisco's artists developed their poster designs within brain-trust collectives like the Family Dog — a commune and promotions compan

Randy Tuten, "Led Zeppelin, Bonzo Dog Band, Rahsaan Roland Kirk His Vibration Society, November 6–8, Winterland, Rolling Stones, November 9, Oakland Coliseum," 1969. Color offset lithograph poster. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, M

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Wilfried Sätty, "Turn on Your Mind (Jerry Garcia Wearing Flag Top Hat)," ca. 1967. Color offset lithograph poster. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Walter and Josephine Landor, 2001.97.29A. © Walter Medeiros / Sätty Estate

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)While the seasons changed on the Summer of Love, its impact on the zeitgeist was indisputable."When the music ended and the lights came on,

"Krishna Consciousness Comes West: Swami Bhaktivedanta, Allen Ginsberg, The Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, Big Brother The Holding Company, Mantra Rock Dance, January 29, Avalon Ballroom," 1967. Color offset lithograph handbill. Collection

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Loren Rehbock, "Mnasidika, 1510 Haight St.," 1967. Color offset lithograph poster. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of the Gary Westford Collection, in memory of Janis Joplin, 2016.32.3. © Loren Rehbock

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

Larry Stark, "'Rorschach Test II,' Frumius Bandersnatch [sic], Clear Light, Buddy Guy, June 14–16, Avalon Ballroom," 1968. Offset lithograph poster. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, Achenbach Foundation for Graphic

(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)**The Summer of Love Experience is on exhibit at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco's de Young, through Aug. 20.**