Deadheads, scholars, and Deadhead scholars convened at San Jose State University’s King Library over the weekend for So Many Roads: The World in The Grateful Dead, a symposium to wrap up a four-day conference on the seminal jam band.
Memorabilia, including posters, handbills, paintings, T-shirts and other items were displayed and on sale at the symposium, which commemorated the touring community, which formed around the band—a topic which was discussed at length during the conference.
Highlights from the day included a round-table discussion titled, If Mercy’s In Business: The Grateful Dead in the Business World with famed venture capitalist/musician Roger McNamee; the Doobie Decibel System performing at the reception; and an extensive exhibit of the art of the Dead and Deadheads on the 7th floor of the SJSU library.
The exhibit on the 7th floor included famed posters and handbills for shows such as the closing of the Winterland with the Grateful Dead, NRPS, and The Blues Brothers. The exhibit also included a display of fan and Dead made t-shirts from the ’80s and ’90s. The art of the Grateful Dead—including album covers, posters, handbills, backdrops and T-shirts—played major role in shaping the way concerts and pop music are promoted.
Notable attendees at the Nov. 7 event included Jerry Garcia’s ex-wife Carolyn “Mountain Girl” Garcia, Jerry’s daughter Trixie Garcia, and artist Stanley Mouse. On other days of the So Many Roads conference, attendees and presenters included Bill Kreutzmann, drummer for the Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead photographers Bob Minkin, Jay Blakesberg, Ed Perlstein, Susana Millman, and Rosie McGee.
Check out these photographs of the event by Metro photographer Jamie Soja:
Stanley Mouse (left) and Roger McNamee (right).
.Grateful Dead Symposium Jams Out At SJSU
