Slick's Pics

Her group, Jefferson Airplane, provided the soundtrack for the Summer of Love, and now Grace Slick can provide a print of Jimi Hendrix for you to hang over your mantle. The 66-year-old former rocker has traded in her miniskirts for an artist's apron. When she comes to South Florida this weekend, she'll display some of the drawings and paintings she created and answer questions about her not-chemically-induced motivations.

The star of one of her most popular songs -- the "White Rabbit" -- has earned the limelight in many of Slick's artworks. Sometimes he is shown alone, other times socializing with Alice of Wonderland. In a telephone interview, Slick said she used the fuzzy creature for a myriad of reasons. "He represents [Alice's] curiosity," she explained. "If you follow your curiosity, your life is going to be a lot more interesting." Secondly, she fondly recalled a neighbor who once had 40 white rabbits in his home -- it was only later in life that she realized he was probably farming them for fur. Slick also said she was born in the Year of the Rabbit (1939) and, like Alice's ventures into the rabbit hole, Slick dove into the '60s and encountered strange people and unusual experiences.

Tweedledee, Tweedledum, and Humpty Dumpty have also starred in Slick's paintings; other works feature portraits of rockers Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Pete Townshend, and even Sting. Slick's depiction of Jerry Garcia, with its spectacular coloration, is one of the most intense. The artist said she wanted to capture his ability to engage. "He was a very good listener. He'd look right at you when you were talking." This weekend, check out Slick's work because, as the song goes, "Remember what the doormouse said -- 'Feed your head!'"