Art & Authenticy

Although I have always known that art and music can go together, i have never seen it blown up in my face in such a creative manner. Just walking into the Looking at Music Side 2 exhibit was like bursts of music, photography, videos, television, and youth rebellion compacted into one gigantic work of art.Upon entering the first thing I was hit with was the gme with the rocks which i didn’t expect or understand. Then I walked right past all of the music videos playing and the paintings to understand what exactly it was that brought all of these elements together. I was hit with the answer when I reached the enormous collage with what i thought were just posters of celebrities. When I took a good look at it, I realized they were newspaper articles, magazines, and tabloids following the stories of different celebrities. Bob Gruen did an amazing job at bringing together a changing era into what it seems to be one teenage, rock and roll fan’s biggest fantasy. Every teen wants to know the scoop on their favorite celebrity.

He covered “The Clash” and if in reality they were the new Aerosmith. He tracked their weak moments, when they were at the top, when they disappeared, and when they again “Clash Center Stage.” It is incredible how he documented the cross over between the music and art scene of an entire era using photographs and magazines. How many of us can say we have decade old teen people magazine and the story that covered Britney’s psychological melt down that caused her to shave her head?

The feel of the whole exhibit seemed so realistic. The sudden unity of music, and poetry; and the spray painting and posters on abandoned buildings, and the forming of bands in vacant garages, made me imagine these inspired teens. Despite the financial situaiton of the 70s, they pursued their artistic inspirations. I could picture them saying, “Grab a garbage can, some wooden sticks, a card-board box, some rubber bands, a role of bounty, and let’s make a band.”

All of the photographs had one thing in common, in some way or another the star of the picture was mading a fool out of his/her self. In one photograph from Bob Gruen’s collage, Johnny Rotten, had his mouth open and was staring blankly. In another, the person in the photo was unidentified and was eating a hot dog with cheese all over his mouth. Rock and Roll brought teen rebellion and the idea of “I am gonna express my taste, voice, and opinion no matter what I look like.”

I loved the documentation of little things you would never expect to be displayed in an exhibit. There was a record of Theoretical Girls of 1978, courtesy of the Bob Nicklas Collection; and a play bill for “The Thief of Baghdad” a show in Time Square by Jack Smith.

I found very random was Adrian Piper who was advertising Funk Lessons for white people. She was huge star shaped glasses, a King’s hat, a beard, and her mouth was open. In a television program called “TV Party,”the band that was invited to the show was just saying random things and making random jokes;there was no formality to the show whatsoever. The callers who should supposedly be asking the band questions would call and sing to the band–very badly may I add, one of them said “be quiet and listen to me, you need to get organized.” All the band said was to play the show back slower and you’ll understand it.” One caller actually asked a normal question that should be asked to a band, “When is the album ‘Blondie’ coming out?” they said in April–April Fools.” Even television broadcasting was revolutionized and completely about expressing yourself–a truly amazing exhibit.