Though it began as a local marketing tool, the rock gig poster quickly became a powerful mode of expression for young artists and illustrators. Director Merle Becker traces the history of the art form, offering tales of the self-made silkscreeners and basement Picassos who turned the medium into a movement. American Artifact starts in the 1960s (examining those ubiquitous psychedelic swirls) and moves forward to a moment when the posters became collectibles, featuring testimonials by top artists, fans, and musicians.