Introduction of Bill Ham Lights

"The luscious and vibrant graphic experiences Ham created from illuminated swirls of ink and oil were often presented at concerts produced by the Family Dog for the Avalon Ballroom and became a central part of the San Francisco rock scene of the ’60s. Musicians and spectators alike were bathed in the psychedelic projected imagery, allowing graphics on a grand scale to function as a form of total immersion in which audiences participated through dance. Unique to Ham’s work was its incorporation of playful montages of slides, films, and strobes, along with the manipulation of colorful liquids. Ham was also ambitious in terms of the architectural scale of his projections, which often covered several walls. For Ham, these live experiences were 'happenings' driven by an impulse toward expanded consciousness—they were art experiences rather than entertainment."—Louise Sandhaus, Earthquakes, Mudslides, Fires & Riots: California and Graphic Design 1936-1986, p 170