I met Peter Max at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in July of 1989. Peter was there for the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Landing on the Moon. In 1969, to commemorate the landing, Peter had been commissioned to create artworks for the Kennedy Space Center. Now, for the 20th Anniversary, he wad commissioned to create a poster. About 500 of the posters were being given away to people attending the event, and Peter was signing them.
When I got into the line, I was told by the events manager that they were nearly out of the free posters, but that if you bought one in the gift shop, Peter would sign it. I hurried to the register with a poster. When I came out, the line was gone, but so was Peter! I found the events manager, who pointed toward a gray-haired man in a suit, heading for the West exit of the museum. I grabbed the Sharpie out of the event managers hand and went running after Peter. When I got closer, I started calling to him, "Mr. Max! Mr. Max?" He slowed and turned. I panted, "Mr. Max? Please, could you sign this for me? I've been a fan of yours since I bought your Paper Airplane Book in the 8th grade." His bushy eyebrows shot up in surprise, as he watched me tear the plastic off my freshly purchased poster. "You actual bought one? " he asked. "Oh, yes." I gushed at the astonished man, " it would mean so much to me if you would sign it." His impish grin went across his face, and suddenly, he was no longer a gray-haired man in a suit. Suddenly, he was once again a creative genius, an acclaimed artist, and a man of incredible creative wit. He took the outstretched pen and signed the paper with a flourish. I thanked him profusely, and as I cradled the curling poster, he asked, "And what will you do with your new treasure?" I answered with confidence, "I'm going to take it home to the best framer in town. And when it's ready, I'm going to hang it in my office where I can look at it every day." He smiled, and we shook hands. Then, he turned and left.
Peter Max had the greatest influence on my own art. The bright colors, the use of exaggeration, the simple and complex symmetries and the imaginative, free flowing lines spoke to me deeply. Peter's work in the 60's and 70's was so alive, vibrant, and fun. It was so different from anything we were being taught in school. I learned from Peter that art was more than realistic representation, and that there were styles and techniques out there to explore.
Oh, and by the way, I did frame the poster and hang it in my office. Then I moved my office into my home, and the poster found a new home in the family room, where I've looked at it every day for the past 8 years.