Exhibition of Bob Dylan paintings London

This lady, holding a painting by Bob Dylan, couldn't look less thrilled could she? I mean, she may well dig John Wesley Harding and Freewheelin', but chances are, she's got painters she digs a whole load more. Anyway, that's not the point of this article. So what is the point?

Well, an exhibition of Bob Dylan's art will be on display in London featuring drawings and sketches from the singer's time on the road between 1989 and 1992. The Halcyon Gallery announced Friday that fans will be able to peruse the art starting June 14, at an exhibit called The Drawn Blank Series. A gallery release described the works as invoking feelings of "anonymity, transience, rootlessness and sometimes loneliness." Hey! I get that sometimes!

"This is an incredible opportunity for viewing this powerful body of work, which gives an insight into the artist's soul and which have already been the subject of widespread critical acclaim," the gallery's president Paul Green told BBC News.

Bag an original East German Disco poster

Salvage experts Trainspotters have dug up a real gem from the former East Germany - a batch of colourful posters for a long-forgotten club.

The club was called Disco and the posters were found in a former Kulturhaus. All are unused, said to be 'excellent to mint condition' and are dated to 1976. Details of the designer aren't known.

The remaining stock has been framed and being offered for sale - you can pick up one of the 61cm x 84cm posters for £210.

Find out more at the Trainspotters website

Via Retro To Go

100 Club Picture Show - music images through the ages

For three days, the 100 Club will open its doors through the afternoons to the public, offering you the chance to see the legendary club, as well as an exhibition of photographs featuring acts who have appeared at the club over the last 60 years.

Photographs from the club, spanning the last 60 years will include Jazz and Blues by Walter Hanlon, Terry Cryer and Chas McDevitt, The Punk Festival of 1976 shot by Barry Plummer, Ray Stevenson and Jill Furmanovsky and Rock and Indie acts by Paul Slattery, Dean Chalkley and Ross Halfin. That includes the likes of The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie Sioux, Metallica, Oasis, Humphrey Lyttelton, Gallows, Chuck Berry, The Damned, Primal Scream and The Horrors to name just a few.

An exclusive preview takes place on Wednesday 7th May from 6:30pm - contact the club for details. The main public viewing runs from Friday 9th May – Sunday 11th May, 12pm – 4pm. Entry is free.

100 Club website

Via Retro To Go

Hip hop exhibition of photos and artwork

To celebrate all things Hip Hop and the 25th anniversary of the release of the definitive Hip Hop film ‘Wild Style’, last year PYMCA created ‘Wildstyles’ an exhibition that featured classic rare photographs hailing back to the old skool days.

Now, the exhibition has moved to Bar Vinyl in Camden Town and this time they're hosting a photography and art competition sponsored by Pentax. The exhibition will run from the 19th May – 16th June 2008. Hip Hop competition showcase will run from the 17th – 22nd June 2008.

Jamie Reid's Never Trust A Punk print

Jamie Reid is an iconic British artist, most readily associated with the 'ransom' style artwork that defined the punk movement, especially with the Sex Pistols album and single artwork. Iconic but still affordable to buy - and one example is this Never Trust A Punk print.

A new twist on a classic Reid work (and the 'never trust a hippy' slogan), this pop edition is available in a quantity of 750, each one a 30.5cm x 23.5cm inkjet print on Satin Hahnemuele photo rag paper, stamped and numbered for authenticity.

Yours for £30. If you want more, there are five Reid prints available on the site.

Find out more at the Nude Magazine website

Via Retro To Go

Bob Dylan by Barry Feinstein exhibition at the Snap Galleries

Birmingham's Snap Galleries is to host the first UK exhibition of Bob Dylan photographs by legendary US photographer Barry Feinstein, taken during May 1966 on the British leg of his world tour.

Barry Feinstein was the official photographer on that '66 tour, capturing some iconic images, including the famous portrait of Dylan surrounded by street kids in a Liverpool doorway and Dylan waiting at the Aust Ferry terminal, during his trip from Bristol to Cardiff - which appeared on the cover of Martin Scorcese's No Direction Home.

The exhibition coincides with the publication by Omnibus Press of Barry Feinstein's new 160 page hardcover book of Dylan photographs, 'Real Moments' - which is sure to be available for the duration of the exhibition, which runs from 3rd May to 28th June 2008.

Snap Galleries website

Via Retro To Go

May Pang puts new book out and it has lots of John Lennon photos

I used to fancy the arse off May Pang when I was younger. I still might. Anyway, John Lennon's partner during his 'lost weekend' (that saw him on the razz with Harry Nilsson and pals, hammering coke and Brandy Alexanders) has put a new book together of unseen photographs from their time together. The New York Times  (who I should give credit for this picture to) have a nice slide show which you can view online... if you click here.

The Morrison Hotel presents Bob Gruen's 'Rockers'

What's this? Well. Bob Gruen is a man who likes to take pictures of rock 'n' roll stars. Now, we're not talking some snap happy chappy hanging around with Snow Patrol here. We're talking John Lennon, Led Zeppelin, Blondie, Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, The Ramones, The Clash, The New York Dolls... y'see? He's probably taken loads of your favourite rock 'n' roll pictures and you never even knew it! Well, Mr Gruen is to exhibit 280 of his fave and most iconic photographs in an exhibition at The Morrison Hotel

Sadly, you'll have to make your way to New York to see the goods. When? April 24th onwards. Where is that again? Morrison Hotel Gallery, 313 Bowery, NYC. Yeah, but how much is this baby gonna set me back? Well, it's free... so if you're in town, it ain't gonna cost you a dime son. The Morrison Hotel Gallery is, apparently, 'the world's leading purveyor of fine art music photography'. If you need more info, visit the Morrison Hotel Gallery website by clicking here.

Supremes exhibition at V&A

A display of costumes worn by the most successful Motown group of all time, The Supremes, is coming to London. The display at the Victoria & Albert Museum will show the changing image of The Supremes from their early Primettes days right through to the more glamorous, Hollywood-designed outfits they wore at the height of their fame. The exhibition will include dresses worn by all three members - Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard - from a selection of live performances, television appearances, album covers, and more. As well as the clothes the V&A exhibition will display archive television footage, photographs and magazine articles to help contextualise the impact the band had on America and the world. Also expect to hear news shortly of a special event featuring an appearance by Mary Wilson accompanied by soul scene DJs.

The Story of the Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection
13 May - 19 October 2008
The Victoria And Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
£5 entrance

For more on the the exhibition see the V&A website here.

[viaModculture]

Rare Beatles photos to go on sale and to be shown at exhibition

Some super rare pictures of The Beatles early in their career in Liverpool, and taken by photographer Michael Ward, have been collected for a limited edition boxed-set dubbed 'A Day In The Life'.

The handmade box-set includes 24 individual lithographs of photographs of the fabs taken by Ward in Liverpool on February 19, 1963, the day the band went to number one for the first time in the UK charts with “Please Please Me”.

The new Genesis publication will be available on the anniversary, February 19, in a signed, limited edition of 750 copies (which includes 24 prints and a 64-page book, hand-bound in Indian silk) with each book numbered and hand-signed.

Sleeveface - The best idea EVER.

The idea Sleeveface is simple. You take a sleeve. You take a face. You make Sleeveface. Although, that said (and this pleases me greatly), it's a vinyl only affair (I mean, I spose you could try it with an MP3).

If you click here, you can visit the Facebook group, or click here to visit the main site and see pictures of Mozza shooting roses, Brenda Lee sporting some shiny eighties football shorts and John Denver having a look at an Airplane DVD. You can join the group and add photos of you posing with your fave face sleeve or email the brains behind the outfit at submit@sleeveface.com

This is, quite simply, one of the best ideas I've ever come across. Join in the fun... and the more ridiculous the better! You'll have to go some way before you top the picture that features a dog with Barbara Streisand's head... happy snapping kiddies!

Patti Smith gets all arty and shows her stuff in Paris

What is it with singers man? They think they can turn their hand to anything.. usually art. I mean, you don't get Dali tryin' his hand at Spanish folk LPs do you? (Do you?) Anyway, Patti Smith is to exhibit a selection of her artwork, including drawings and photography, at a prestigious Parisian gallery.

“Land 250”, named after the supreme grand punkstress’ Polaroid camera, sees Smith exhibit 250 polaroids, including photos of poet Arthur Rimbaud’s cutlery and Jimi Hendrix’s guitar. Some 25 drawings also feature in the exhibition at Fondation Cartier, alongside found objects, including a stone from the River Ouse in Sussex where novelist Virginia Woolf committed suicide.

Smith has also recorded explanations of her artwork to be played in the gallery. Herve Chandes, the director of Fondation Cartier, said: “Everything Patti does is very emotional, but this is particularly personal to her. It is an immensely romantic, lyrical show which I think will reveal a side to her that not many people have seen before.” It runs from March 28 to June 22.

Gianni Rossi limited edition music tour prints

Over at the newly-launched Tam Tam Studio online store is a range of very stylish music-based prints, the work of Italian graphic designer Gianni Rossi.

The original posters were produced for the American market, although whether these were themed around gigs, as opposed to produced for gigs isn't clear. Either way, they're incredibly eye-catching, with this 1930s-inspired Ladytron print and the White Stripes playing card design the pick of the bunch.

All prints are on art paper, limited editions and are all signed by the author. Prices are between 35 and 45 Euros.

View the full range at the Tam Tam Studio website

Via Switched On Set

Photos of The Rolling Stones Rock 'n' Roll Circus available

The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus is one of those great events that could've only happened in the sixties. Basically, a stoner concept ('let's have a circus man, like, with rock 'n' roll bands... it'll be a freak show with the freaks man') with some truly scintillating performances from The Stones, John Lennon, Taj Mahal, Jethro Tull (before they went all daft), The Who and more in amongst the midgets and geriatric trapeze artists. Well, now you can get a photo set on a limited edition DVD.

Renowned rock photographer Mike Randolf was there to capture the madness of it all and has made 80 images available to view eclusively on a limited run of 5000 DVDs. The iconic photographs play like a movie and are accompanied by the instrumental music from the film.More details are available from www.southbankphoto.co.uk

If you haven't already, you should buy the DVD of the film too, which features the Stones belting through Sympathy For The Devil and loads more (and Taj Mahal's rendition of Ain't That A Lotta Love is worth yer entrance fee alone). Click here to buy the film.

eBaywatch... Parliament Funkadelic poster

eBay is a treasure trove of obscurities and wonderments. One gem, nestled away amongst the press shots of Chaka Khan and signed Bruce Springsteen LPs is this eye-popping Parliament Funkadelic poster.

This poster dates from 2005 when George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Co. took to the road to summon the funk with starry specs and hell-raisin' hair. Based on the style of the classic sixties posters that used to grace the walls of the Fillmore back in the halcyon days, Parliament clearly wear their love on their extravagant sleeves.

This poster is in good condition and currently going for $19.99... although, if you can't wait, you can buy it now for $35.99... which is peanuts for something as beautiful as this.

Click here if you want to make a bid

Dancing makes the Lord cry

Feel free to steal this and use it as a flyer or something...

Art Kane: Visionary Portraits 1958 - 68

January sees the start of an exhibition of work from one of rock's finest photographers under the name Art Kane: Visionary Portraits 1958 - 68 at the Snap Galleries in Birmingham.

Kicking off his photographic career with a portrait of 57 of the worlds most famous Jazz musicians for Esquire in 1958, Kane went on to snap just about anyone worth capturing for the next two decades in his own individual style -  The Rolling Stones (pictured here), Bob Dylan, The Who, Cream, The Doors, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa - they're all here.

Alongside the iconic images (Sonny and Cher underwater - the inspiration for that Nirvana sleeve 25 years later for example), there are new photographs too - including unpublished Art Kane studio portraits of Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey from the mid-sixties. And if the images catch your eye, limited edition copies will be available, each fully authenticated by Jonathan Kane on behalf of the Art Kane estate.

Art Kane : Visionary Portraits 1958 - 68 runs from 12th January to 12th March 2008. For further details or directions to the gallery, check the website.

Find out more at the Snap Galleries website

Via Retro To Go

Tony Wilson to be hung in National Portrait Gallery

Anyone with half a brain knows the importance of Tony Wilson... in fact, I think it would be nothing short of patronising to tell you his list of achievements. In fact, by not telling you, I'm placing the reader above our need to get up Google's rankings... fuck 'em.

Four months after his untimely death, the Factory boss  is set to have his portrait hung in London’s National Portrait Gallery... which surely proves his significance to the world as a whole, as opposed to only those who like buying obscure indie 45s.

The portrait used to commemorate Wilson’s contribution to British music and cultural impact was by photographer Kevin Cummins and taken at the Haçienda in 1985 and with typical cheekiness, Wilson is shown peeping between those famed dancefloor pillars.

Ozzy Osbourne turns from music to art

Ozzy Osbourne - not exactly the sensitive artist-type you would think - but he has created some art, all for charity obviously.

Yes, this canvas print is the work of our Oz, with a sentiment I'm sure we can all sympathise with. The canvases are eco-friendly, as are the wooden frames, which combine to a size of 30cm x 30cm.

It sells for £15, with 14 per cent of the price going to the Whatever It Takes charity.

Find out more at the Whatever It Takes website

EMI offers classic LPs as Vinyl Art

EMI has done a deal with the Vinyl Art company to provide it with classic albums on vinyl for its Play and Display frames.

Classic is a loose term, there's a few big-selling modern albums actually rubbing shoulders with albums from the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Pink Floyd - all of which sit in the patented album frames, which have an easy release button to take out the album when you want to play. That;s why it's a Play and Display frame.

You can check out some of the sleeves on the website, alongside other non-EMI LPs. All of which retail for £39, less if you just want a frame.

Find out more at the Art Vinyl website

Hand painted guitars of the stars to be auctioned

A host of hand-painted guitars signed by celebrities including Noel Gallagher, Kasabian, Ronnie Wood and Robert Plant are to be put up for auction.

The 30 Gibson SG guitars have been signed by the artists and uniquely designed and hand-painted by artists as one offs. They're set to be auctioned off at the Gibson Guitartown London Charity Auction, to be held at the IndigO2 on November 20.

The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood has hand-painted an SG with his pastel rendition of the Royal Albert Hall, while Pink Floyd's Roger Waters' guitar features an exclusive design by 'The Wall' cover art designer Gerald Scarfe. All money raised from the auction will be split between Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, The Prince's Trust and the Teenage Cancer Trust. For more information, go to Londonguitartown.com.

Art exhibition commemorates 40th anniversary of Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

We've gone Syd/Pink Floyd mad at the moment (mind you, we're all big fans of the early works of Pink Floyd). Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Pink Floyd's debut LP, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, there's going to be an art exhibition based on the early music of Floyd at Lennox Gallery, 19-25th Nov, 2007.

The exhibition focuses on the mood of the psychedelic 67, the London Underground, the ethos and philosophy associated with it. Currently, an online exhibition has been offered to web viewers titled Change Returns Success. You will find more info by clicking here. 

There is also talk of a Syd Barrett tribute site and a separate section of art based on his works which will be also displayed at Lennox. Far out! 

Wolfgang's Vault - legendary live performances for free

If you're a younger reader, one of the most annoying things about listening to people like Stevie Wonder, The Band and The Beach Boys is that you never got the chance to see them live whilst in their prime. Flabby jowled reunion tours with mullet headed session men are only so much fun.

Well, thankfully for you, there is a place where you can dig the live sounds of your fave artists online and for free! Wolfgang's Vault contains a rich mine of concert recordings featuring all the aforementioned artists, as well as legendary performances from Miles Davis, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and more.

Not only that, Wolfgang's offers you the chance to purchase the recordings as MP3s, along with vintage posters, T Shirts and more. It's a great site that you should plunder for all it's worth.

Click here to visit Wolfgang's Vault

60s In Colour canvas art

Torn between some photography or some art on your wall? You should check out this rather smart canvas art by 60s In Colour.

60s In Colour is artist/photographers Brian Bignell and Diane Thornton, who have used their skills to produce colourised effects from Brian's original black and white photographs of well known sixties groups and solo artists taken during the period 1963 - 1966. The results are shown in the above images of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Roger Daltrey. And if they don't appeal, there's a number of other acts to choose from.

Prices vary dependent on the canvas size you want, but typically start from £58.

Find out more at the Back2thewall website

Via Retro To Go

Hendrix exhibition launched

Jimi Hendrix's legendary (and violent/noodly) Woodstock performance of the 'Star Spangled Banner' is to be the focus of a special art exhibition. The late guitar shredder features in a giant digital projection at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

Entitled 'Star Spangled Banner Recurring' by artist Graham Dolphin, the legendary 1969 performance is shown repeatedly across a grid of 12 panels, with each panel starting half a second after the other. So what you'll get is a horrendous flange effect and a constant loop of some guitar overacting. Hmmm. The exhibition is currently up and running at the centre, and will continue until June 28 and will be attended only by the brave or deaf.

Cliff Richard - when he was hip

Cliff Richard - God botherer, granny's favourite and all-round showbiz luvvy. Not exactly Electric Roulette material. Or is he?

Back in the late 50s, Cliff was cool - and almost 50 years after its release, Cliff still looks hip in his first movie role, playing the lead character in Expresso Bongo - a tale of London coffee bars and the pop industry.

And if you want an original Expresso Bongo poster from the movie, you can pick one up at Christies next month as part of the Vintage Film Poster sale. It's one of numerous music movie posters in the sale, which includes (amongst others) Jazz On A Summer's Day and some classic Elvis. If you fancy bidding on Expresso Bongo, it's likely to set you back around £300.

Find out more at the Christies website

Punk Magazine Revived

Punk Magazine occupies a similar place in the mythology of the mid-70s New York scene as Mark Perry's Sniffin' Glue does in the slightly later UK equivalent.

Set up by Legs McNeil (later co-author of "Please Kill Me", an excellent history of the era's movers and shakers), cartoonist John Holstrom and Ged Dunn, the magazine put out 17 issues between the start of '76 and mid '79. During this run, it's content mixed up Mad style cartoons with reviews and interviews with such leading lights of the day as Patti Smith, The Ramones, Television, Debbie Harry and Lou Reed.

Now, the magazine is back with issue 19, (the website confusingly claiming that No.18 will be published "in the near future"), and promising to deliver the "usual favorites: Reviews, advertisements, and filler". In reality, contents suggest that a mixture of both old, (rare Ramones photos, a punk rock family tree), and new, (Turbo AC's, The Bullys), punk rock action will be covered.

Should something as iconic as this be revived? Will it be any good? These questions can only be answered by yourselves, as I have yet to see a copy! Head on over to the website, and you can start making your minds up.

Peter Blake heads up all star exhibition

Sixties design icon and creator of the Sergeant Pepper LP cover, Peter Blake, will head up an exhibition featuring musicians and artists including Bloc Party and Alison Goldfrapp are to contribute a series of images interpreting the theme of “Tomorrow” for a brand new exhibition at London’s ICA this May.

The 'All Tomorrow’s Pictures' project aims to “highlight the creative potential of fusing art and technology” as part of the ICA's 60th anniversary celebrations.

All 59 artists taking part need to produce their image or series of images using a Sony Ericsson K800i, the latest Cybershot phone. A 60th contributor to the exhibition will be chosen by a public competition next month. “All Tomorrow’s Pictures” will run at the ICA from May 30 – June 8. Find out more by clicking here and visiting the ICA website

British psychedelia prints at London's V&A

Last year, London's V&A hosted a Sixties Graphics exhibition, which featured artwork and design from the period 1965 - 1972, including the work of designers such as Nigel Waymouth, Michael English and Martin Sharp. And if you head over to the V&A site, you can buy reproduction prints from the some of the more famous moments of British psychedelia.

There's five posters available, mainly from the infamous UFO Club and featuring resident band The Pink Floyd. And pictured here is my favourite print - UFO's Nite Tripper Freakout - which promised The Floyd, Andy Warhol and Kenneth Anger amongst others for a bargain 10 shillings,

The re-print posters cost a little more - dependent on the size and quality you choose, prices start at £5, rising to £50.

See the full range of psychedelic posters at the V&A site