Flatstock 24 at SXSW

When SXSW rolls around every year people automatically think about seeing movie premiers and listening to bands play…or at least that’s what comes to my mind. But, there is more to SXSW then just movies and bands, there’s art too.

“FLATSTOCK 24” is an event co-presented by the American Poster Institute and SXSW. Every year Flatstock 24 displays the works of more than 100 artists from across North America and the globe. Posters representing decades of styles, colors and techniques are on display and for sale as well as additional merchandise.

There were so many different styles of work and different type of artist, women, men and even a husband and wife team. We got a chance to talk to a few of the artist. Most said that they have been hired by the band or the bands record label to create poster art to sell at concerts and other poster shows. A question that I often asked was, “what inspires you when you are creating your work,” and the most common answer was “the music.” Some people take the songs that the band plays literally, others look deeper into the song to bring out what they individual interpret the song to mean. Either way, the concert posters seem to capture both the essence of the music they promote and the spirit of the time in which they were produced.

Flatstock is something like I have never seen; it is almost overwhelming that amount of art and talent that they have there.

The most exciting thing about Flatstock 24…it’s FREE!!! You don’t need a SXSW pass or money of any kind to get in. But, make sure to bring some cash if you want to take some of the art home with you. Though some posters can get a bit pricey, there is something to fit every budget.