PhanArt (ePub)

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