Join Us, Berkeley Independence Day | Gary Grimshaw | 1969 | Original Poster

The summer of 1969 was one of the most turbulent in American history. The Vietnam War was consuming a generation. Just weeks before July 4th, Governor Ronald Reagan had deployed the National Guard against protesters in Berkeley's People's Park — tear gas, buckshot, and a city under occupation. Into that charged atmosphere came this poster: a hippie and a soldier, side by side beneath a radiant sun, with two simple words — Join Us.

Designed by Gary Grimshaw and printed by Jellyroll Press, this is an original first printing of one of the most quietly powerful pieces of American counterculture graphic art ever made. Grimshaw was no amateur — he was one of the founding voices of psychedelic poster art, responsible for the iconic concert imagery of Detroit's Grande Ballroom, working alongside legends like Wes Wilson and Victor Moscoso. When Grimshaw turned his hand to political art, the result carried the same visual authority. This poster didn't just advertise an event — it made an argument: that the soldier and the protester were not enemies, but neighbors. That Independence Day belonged to all of them.

A copy of this poster is held in the permanent collection of the Oakland Museum of California — institutional recognition of its place in American history.

This example is in exceptional condition for its age — colors remain bold and saturated, the turquoise background retains its vibrancy, and the graphic integrity of Grimshaw's design is fully intact. It is presented in a sleek black frame that lets the poster speak for itself, keeping the focus on the image without distraction. The contrast of the black frame against the vivid cyan and hot pink of the poster is striking on a wall.

Details

Artist: Gary Grimshaw

Printer: Jellyroll Press

Event: Berkeley Independence Day, July 4, 1969

Medium: Original offset poster, first printing

Size: 23" x 13"

Frame: Black frame, excellent condition

Condition: Exceptional for age — colors vivid, no tears or significant loss