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"Surf Culture" Vintage "Big Wednesday" Movie Poster Signed by John Severson

About the Item

A very nice "Surf Culture" vintage "Big Wednesday" movie poster signed by surf industry pioneer and "Surfer Magazine" founder John Severson circa 1990s. The piece is in great condition with vibrant colors and measures 12"W x 18"H; it is presented in a black metal frame and has a picture of Severson with the original owner at the signing on the back. Severson was the producer of this 1961 surfer cult classic. I believe this piece is a reprint and not an original poster from 1961. Nevertheless, it would make a "must have" addition to any surf memorabilia collector! #3179 John Severson, well known as the creator of the internationally acclaimed SURFER Magazine, grew up surfing off the beaches of Southern California. He began his career as a painter, selling his first works while finishing his Master’s Degree at Long Beach State College. In the ’50s he became the first person to create a large body of art relating to the Hawaii-California surf culture. Since then he has provided a steady output of oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and prints. In 1958, John used his art, photography, and surfing passion to create a popular surf movie series. His films included SURF SAFARI, SURF FEVER, BIG WEDNESDAY, and PACIFIC VIBRATIONS. Severson's smash hits posters from the ’50s and ’60s, remain collector favorites. As a surfer, Severson was known for riding big waves, and for his innovative performance style in big surf. In 1961, he won the Peru International Surfing Championships and was a finalist in the U.S. and Hawaiian Championships. With the founding of SURFER, John’s art focused on the magazine and graphics. His painting “Surf Bebop” was selected as the outstanding cover painting of 1963 by Communication Arts. Surfer During the ’60s, he authored two surf books for Doubleday. In 1968, LIFE Magazine ran 10 pages on Severson’s family and surf success. Over the years, John has continued a parallel career in photography; his work has appeared in LIFE, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, PARIS MATCH, GERMAN STERN, and others and was selected for a ’60s SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SPORT-IN-ART show in New York. John Severson was voted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in 1993, the Walk of Fame at Huntington Beach in 1995, and given a lifetime achievement award by the Surf Industry Manufacturers’ Association as Waterman of the Year in 1997. From an artistic standpoint, John Severson was a true original. Every mark, from the smallest doodle to the largest gestural brush stroke on a major oil painting, is clearly his own individual statement. There is no doubt, that John Severson’s artworks will pass the test of time, both as unique artistic statements and as an important visual record of the developing surf culture.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1990s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    San Diego, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: #31791stDibs: LU936635773402

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