PhanArt

PhanArt: The Art of the Fans of Phish, is a 400+ page coffee table book featuring over 1600 pieces of Phish fan created art. Included in the book are over 400 posters, more than 500 shirts, 350+ stickers, and 100′s of license plates, dozens of tattoos, articles, interviews, essays, and other creations Phish fans made from the late 1980s through 2004. This comprehensive collection is a must-have for any Phish fan. Hundreds of Phish fans and artists worked to contribute to the collection which was laid out and compiled by Author and Editor Pete Mason.

PhanArt: The Art of the Fans of Phish, features artists such as Kurt Vonnegut, Ryan Kerrigan, AJ Masthay, Jason Lees and Jamie Huntsman. Pete Mason, a special education teacher living in Albany, NY noted that “PhanArt has been a labor of love for many of us, and we’re grateful to for the fans to come together and have supported this book for the past 4 years of its creation and helping bring the book to life.” Mason noted that the book was an impressive collaborative effort that led to a finished product many fans had a hand in helping to create. “We have over 1600 items in the book, submitted by more than 1000 Phish fans, some of whom offered their shirts and other fan-art in an effort to be part of capturing a slice of Americana that would otherwise fade into obscurity” The 400+page book will feature more than 1600 pieces of art and over 40 essays, all created by fans of Phish, as well as numerous fan memories and stories collected over the bands 21-year existence. -1- With a purchase price of $25.00 USD, all net-profits from the sale of PhanArt will benefit The Mockingbird Foundation, a non-profit organization created by Phish fans to support music education. All artists in the book, as well as the contributors and Mason have declined to accept any compensation for their efforts in creating the book. “To make profit off this book would be against the Phish community – this book gives back into the community it came from, through funding music education throughout the country" Through the project website (www.phanart.net) fans submitted art they created in honor of the band. Original posters, bumper stickers, shirts, tattoos and even painted cars and license plates are some of the items Mason and his team have collected since starting the initiative in 2004. Only original items, not licensed by the band, were accepted for inclusion in PhanArt. The collaborative community aspect of the book highlights Phish fans and culture immensely. “There was a culture and community established at Phish shows that really reflected the positive emotion inspired by the band and we wanted to capture that, through the art, before it was lost forever. I think this book does just that,” said Mason

Pete Mason is a high school Special Education teacher living in Albany, NY. He started PhanArt shortly after Phish’s final shows in 2004 as a way to preserve the legacy of the Phish community. With the help of friends (both old and new) he compiled, edited, laid out and oversaw the creation of a 400+ page book that is unlike any other book. Pete has traveled across the country (and to all 50 states) for Phish and other bands and seeks to preserve the legacy of Phish fans through PhanArt. Pete is also a Columnist for Upstate Live Music Guide, coaches youth soccer and continues to help the ever-expanding Phish. PhanFoArt community grow. His next book, PhanFood: From the Kitching Pot to the Parking Lot is a collaboration with Taraleigh Silberberg (The Healthy Hippie) PhanFood is a collection of recipes from Phish fans and friends including appetizers, drinks, salads, healthy food, desserts and other delicious concoctions. PhanFood benefits the food pantry of Burlington, Vermont and the towns Phish plays in each tour. Pete is currently working on a book on music festivals with longtime editor and friend Tim O’Shea