September 23, 2016 - Tonight we open the most intimate show of the year here at Galerie F. Our last encounter with Jim Pollock’s iconic art wasn’t too long ago. Back in June we hosted his 30-Year Retrospective that resulted in an extraordinary turn out. No one could have anticipated the excitement felt as collectors and fans lined up down the block the night before the exhibition opening. It was truly astonishing to see so much work from 30 years worth of archival material in our space. We were positively overwhelmed with the turnout and have only just begun recovering from the many orders and inquiries following the show.

Pollock has often been referred to as one of the most quirky, influential, and highly collectible rock poster artists of the past thirty years. He is well known for creating artwork for bands such as Phish, Umphrey’s McGee, The Disco Biscuits, and more. As his 30 Year Retrospective exhibition has proven, Pollock has achieved tremendous success with this body of work.

The work included in HIGH PHI represents the beginning of a new phase of Pollock’s career by focusing on a set of issues very dear to the artist. Pollock has long been deeply committed to the legalization of marijuana as well as hemp as a valuable commodity. HIGH PHI, as an exhibition, highlights this aspect of Pollock’s artistic activism.

Importantly, HIGH PHI is a starting point for a much bigger project. Pollock is asking those who view his work to reconsider their presuppositions regarding marijuana and its connection to visual art. His aim is to aid viewers in rethinking their approach to a commodity that is often considered in purely illegal and unethical terms. Part of this process is to reframe the experience of buying marijuana at a dispensary. Pollock hopes that HIGH PHI can continue to evolve and be shown in more locations around the United States with the goal being that these artworks will make their way to both the homes of those behind the movement as well as the walls of dispensaries for a much larger public.

The work featured in the exhibition is also invested in an exploratory look at the beautiful and intellectual intricacies of the controversial plant. The artist incorporates the ever complex theme of the elusive golden mean into his prints by thinking about the relationship between math and marijuana. Pollock remarks, “I was trying to incorporate the ratio of phi into every rendering. You can see it in the number of leaves, the angles at which the leaves protrude.”

In addition to this, Pollock remarks that this collection of work is aimed at pushing his audience to remember that struggle for the legalization of marijuana continues:“I wanted to create art that pushes into the forefront something that should have been legalized years ago.”

Also included in HIGH PHI are three Phish Hampton posters from Januray 2,3 & 4, 2003. These three diamond-shaped posters are very important to Pollock. They have lived in his studio space for over a decade witnessing his creative process and ever evolving work. The print set represents the turning point that HIGH PHI as a whole represents as Pollock continues to move towards a more emotional and activist centered artistic practice.

For press inquiries about HIGH PHI please contact Sarah Wheat: social@galerief.com