Feature Image: Courtesy of the Grateful Dead
Freeskiing’s own Chris Benchetler recently announced that he was commissioned by the Grateful Dead to create the band’s 60th anniversary logo. The logo was unvieled on the band’s YouTube channel with a video detailing Benchetler’s process and the inspiration behind the work of art.
While he’s one of the most fabled freeskiers of all time, Benchetler has become well known for his career as an artist. His art has made its way onto his pro model ski for years, creating a cult following that has helped cement the Atomic Bent line as one of the most famous ski lineups of all time. Often adorned with bright, vivid colors and intricate detail, he paints phsycadelic landscapes that beg the skier to question how they view the mountains and beyond. Who better to take the reins and craft this latest imagery for the Dead?
A look at Benchetler’s Instagram feed showcases his wild style in full glory. It’s a blend of deep pow and bewildering art, with notes of Jerry Garcia ever-present.
His affinity for the Dead is well known and documented, from moments with the late great basketball star and Dead Head Bill Walton to playing a part in the visuals presented by the Dead and Company shows this summer. His 2019 project “Fire On The Mountain” is a testament to his longstanding love for the music born out of 1960’s San Fransisco and all things Dead.
Benchetler’s life has been inspiring through and through, especially in recent times. His wife, legendary snowboarder Kimmy Fasani, was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2021. Together with their two sons, the family has endured this incredibly traumatic time with a brave face as Fasani couragously battled the illness.
Fasani has been open about the experience since the beginning, and continues to be an brilliant role model to everyone in the action sports world and beyond. She is now back on her board and over two years cancer free, even having competed in Natural Selection in 2023.
The two have never wavered in their message rooted in love and compassion, a theme channeled in both of their public voices. It’s also a theme we hear over and over again in the music of the Dead. This monumental collaboration seems only fitting, and we extend a big congratulations to Benchetler and to all parties who help bring this project to reality.
“The inspirational significance that I found for this piece represents the band’s impactful 60 year journey. The band’s music and live concerts represent many decades of sunshine filled positive light and energy, that the music has given to so many people.
The roses symbolize our deep love of the Dead. Inside the 60 I used a diamond like card, inspired from the gambling songs like Loser and Deal. The rays not only pull from Sunshine Daydream, but I used inspiration from previous Dead iconography and art, also represented in the font. The bigger semicircle was an abstract way to represent the number 60, as it is 60% of a full circle (the full sun). The aged patina on the red and blue also represents the 60 years of this unbelievable musical journey.
This logo is meant to pull from GD lore, yet be a contemporary interpretation for where we are now. I purposefully listened to a wide array of the Dead from early – to middle – to later years to help inspire what I was working on. As an artist I went on my own musical journey while I was creating this piece.” – Chris Benchetler
From YouTube:
Multi-hyphenate and Deadhead Chris Benchetler sits down with us to discuss his experience designing the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary logo.
Watch Chris’ magnificent 2019 Grateful Dead inspired short film “Fire On The Mountain” featuring narration by Bill Walton ▶️ • Fire On The Mountain – Official Grate…
“The inspirational significance that I found for this piece represents the band’s impactful 60 year journey. The band’s music and live concerts represent many decades of sunshine filled positive light and energy, that the music has given to so many people.
The roses symbolize our deep love of the Dead. Inside the 60 I used a diamond like card, inspired from the gambling songs like Loser and Deal. The rays not only pull from Sunshine Daydream, but I used inspiration from previous Dead iconography and art, also represented in the font. The bigger semicircle was an abstract way to represent the number 60, as it is 60% of a full circle (the full sun). The aged patina on the red and blue also represents the 60 years of this unbelievable musical journey.
This logo is meant to pull from GD lore, yet be a contemporary interpretation for where we are now. I purposefully listened to a wide array of the Dead from early – to middle – to later years to help inspire what I was working on. As an artist I went on my own musical journey while I was creating this piece.”
Be sure to keep an eye out for “Mountains of the Moon”, an immersive experience being produced in collaboration with the Grateful Dead, coming fall 2025. Click HERE to visit Chris Benchetler’s website and learn more.
