Bruce Springsteen is getting the multimedia treatment at the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, September 22-January 19.
The exhibit explores Springsteen's use of cars and highways as central features in his music and in related visual imagery. Over 70 photographs by artists Annie Leibovitz, Pamela Springsteen, David Gahr, Joel Bernstein, David Michael Kennedy, Lynn Goldsmith, Edie Baskin, David Rose, and Frank Stefanko will be on display. Their images, most of them taken for Springsteen's presentation and promotion of his work, act as artistic parallels of the singer's musical imagery. In addition, this is the first major museum showing of sister Pamela Springsteen's work. The exhibition will feature 41 of her photographs from The Ghost of Tom Joad series.
While Springsteen fans will recognize some familiar images from records and CDs, the exhibition also includes photographs that have never been seen before. "I'm presenting Springsteen as an artist," Colleen Sheehy, Weisman Art Museum exhibition organizer says. "I explore one aspect of his imagery — both in music and in visual forms — just as we might look at how a painter uses certain motifs like nature or the city. Springsteen uses cars and the road to comment on American culture, and, importantly, his messages have connected with millions of people."
Springsteen himself gave permission for the Weisman to use his music, lyrics, photography, and videos in the exhibition.
The exhibit travels to Cranbrook Art Museum in Detroit in summer 2003, Experience Music Project in Seattle in spring 2004, and The Newark Museum in New Jersey, summer 2004.
