EAST TOTEM WEST- STONE GARDEN. NEAR MINT DIRECT FROM THE ESTATE OF JOE MCHUGH.

JOSEPH MCHUGH
In the Summer of Love circa 1967 Joe McHugh and East Totem West (ETW) were in the forefront of creating psychedelic posters purely for arts sake. The new concept of advertising nothing but the power of creativity that was very affordable to the flower children who thronged to the San Francisco area. Joe started his poster company in Mill Valley, with some very talented and like minded artists.ETW was up and running by 1967, at which time he produced his two most iconic posters,”White Rabbit” & “Cheshire Cat”. These posters are beautiful and vivid examples of the genre, and continue to inspire each generation to explore the message of these innovative artists. They have been exhibited and are part of the collections at Victoria and Albert Museum, London , The New York Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), The Whitney, The Oakland Museum, and are featured in The Museum Of Modern Art, & MOMA’s 2018 calendar in many other poster art exhibitions around the world. Many articles can be found about the history and life and times of McHugh and his stable of artists, but perhaps none better than: The White Rabbit and Other Delights - East Totem West: a Hippie Company 1967-1969.

JOSEPH MCHUGH OBITUARYJoseph McHughAugust 8, 1939 - May 10, 2022American Artist, Joe McHugh passed away peacefully on May 10th at age 82. His death was followed by lightening, thunder & hail appropriate for this psychedelic pioneer, who's work came to the forefront of mainstream consciousness during the late 60's when he co-founded East Totem West, an artist collective that captured & promoted the hippie zeitgeist. Joe was born in 1939 to Edward & Mary McHugh. In his early years, Joe was known as an inventor and athlete, who started a kayak building business and excelled at cross-country and soccer. Joe graduated from LeHigh College with BA in Psychology and went on to obtain a 2nd degree at Rhode Island School of Design. Joe worked as an Army Psychologist before meeting his first wife Irene Pschorr. They moved to Mill Valley, California in 1966, where they co-founded the celebrated artist collective East Totem West. The East Totem West works are now part of the Victoria & Albert Museum's permanent collection and featured in shows at NYC MoMA and The Whitney. Joe created a deep body of art that includes paintings, drawings, collage, photography, slide shows and poetry books. Joe was a man of love, spiritual energy, and integrity.