The "No Nukes" Concerts
Nuclear proliferation on both sides
of the Cold War raised concerns about our children's future and the safety of
our planet. The U.S. and Scandinavia led the way for peace; protest marches were
held and speeches were made. Ad-hoc organizations such as Musicians United for
Safe Energy (MUSE) did their part by fund-raising. Chwast's design for the group's
benefit concerts New Yorkers filled mammoth Madison Square Garden shows a grooved-out
Uncle Sam pacifically jamming on an electric guitar.
The
No Nukes Concerts
Musicians United for Safe Energy, or MUSE, was
an activist group founded in 1979 by Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt,
and John Hall of Orleans. The group advocated against the use of nuclear
energy, forming shortly after the Three Mile Island nuclear accident in March
1979. MUSE organized a series of five No Nukes concerts held at Madison Square
Garden in New York in September 1979. The No Nukes Concerts were the main political
effort of MUSE. Other musicians performing at the concerts included Crosby,
Stills, and Nash, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, James Taylor, Carly
Simon, The Doobie Brothers, Jesse Colin Young, Gil Scott-Heron, Tom Petty,
and others. The album No Nukes, and a film, also titled No Nukes, were both released
to document the performancese.The profits of all this effort went to various anti-nuclear
groups.
The
Designer - Seymour Chwast"A beguiling sense
of humor underpins Chwast's illustration, and a keen understanding of traditional
design governs his method."
(Steven Heller, graphic-design.com)
Seymour
Chwast was born in New York City and is a graduate of The Cooper Union, where
he studied illustration and graphic design. He is a founding partner of the celebrated
Push Pin Studios, whose distinct style has had a worldwide influence on contemporary
visual communications. In 1985 the studio’s name was changed to The Pushpin Group,
of which Mr. Chwast is the director. It would be difficult to imagine contemporary
American and European graphic design and illustration without the presence of
Seymour Chwast. By the middle of the 1950s, as the Norman Rockwell epoch drew
to a close, Chwast was already known for his unique style of illustration. His
playful, expressive approach to type and layout was the point of a new design
wave based on revivalism—a radical alternative to the Swiss formalism of the time.
For over 30 years he has continued to ride above the twists and turns of fashion;
today his art is even more energized and varied than when it originally altered
a generation's perceptions.
"For some 30 years, Chwast has been known
for his unique style of illustration; and a fresh, sometimes playful approach
to typography. His social commentary and unique way of combining images and ideas
influenced an entire generation of designers and illustrators. The Push Pin Studio
produced an award-winning bi-monthly publication, The Push Pin Graphic. Over the
years it gained a world-wide reputation for its innovative design and illustration
because of Seymour Chwast and Milton Glaser.
It was the showcase and springboard for many illustrators and designers like David
Croland, Michael Hostovich, Jeffrey Krassner, Fred Marshall and Haruo Miyauchi.
From posters to book covers to children's books and advertising design,
Chwast has touched on virtually every facet of visual communications. Many 'new'
graphics we see today are heavily influenced by Chwast's touch. He's been there
-- done that."
(Steven Heller, graphic-design.com)
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