Positively Bob Dylan

As the Bob Dylan magazine ISIS reports in its latest issue, there will be an exhibition of original paintings and limited edition prints by Bob Dylan from 14 June 2008. The exhibition will include new, previously unseen works. It will take place at London’s Halcyon Gallery in Mayfair, one of Europe’s leading galleries for contemporary art in its 25th anniversary.
Bob Dylan’s interest in painting was probably influenced by artist Suze Rotolo, Bob’s girlfriend in the early 1960s. Examples of his early works can be found on the covers of his albums of “Self Portrait” (1970) and “Planet Waves” (1974), but only recently he agreed to a very first official exhibition at the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz in Germany from October 2007 until February 2008, entitled “The Drawn Blank Series Watercolor and Gouache Paintings Exhibition”. The initial idea for that came from a book of drawings and sketches done by Dylan from 1989 to 1992, which were published under the title “Drawn Blank” by Random House in 1994. You can read the official press release by Columbia Records here, or take a look at some of the paintings on this page of the Guardian website.

“Bob Dylan’s American Journey, 1956–1966″ is a new exhibition at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles more than 160 artifacts, including Dylan’s handwritten drafts of classic songs, rare concert posters and a recording of his first concert, which has never been commercially released. It follows Bob Dylan from his Minnesota roots to his growing fame as a rock star. The presentation is complemented by a newly developed satellite exhibit, which offers a unique opportunity to experience the creative process. Visitors can simulate playing along with Dylan on keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars, drums and organs, as well as experiment with a mixing board on an authentic Dylan recording!

The exhibition can be visited until June 8, 2008 at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049. General admission is $10.

The Skirball Cultural Center is an affiliate of Hebrew Union College. Its mission is to explore the connections between four thousand years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democratic ideals. It features a museum, changing exhibitions, engaging music, theater, comedy, film, family, and literary programs in an architectural setting designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie. Over 500,000 people visit the Skirball each year.

Visitors of this website have voted “Mr. Tambourine Man” Dylan’s greatest song ever. The classic 1965 album cut off Bringing It All Back Home reached the peak of the Top 100 Dylan Songs rating in April, closely followed by - and this might be a little surprise to some - Blood On The Tracks’ “Idiot Wind”. A few excerpts from user comments on the song: “the lyrics/imagery are unapproachable”, “first psychedelic vision of rock”, “last verse has been my personal touchstone for close on 42 years”, “Dylan is restless and aimless he is searching for something”, “The amazing thing about Dylan is that he can bathe himself into the sickness of a song, and then come out again.”
Feel free to vote for “Mr. Tambourine Man” as well, or post your own personal comment on the song or on any other officially released Bob Dylan tune.

For his “profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power” Bob Dylan received a Special Citation at the Pulitzer Prizes 2008 on Monday. It was the first time the Pulitzer Prize Board awarded an art form once dismissed as subversive. So the times they have changed again and Rock ’n Roll has finally broken through the Pulitzer wall to join the exclusive club of icons in literature, journalism, classic music, and jazz. Congratulations, you got a good deal!