From April 3 through June 16, 2013, Spectacle: The Music Video will be featured at Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York. Curated by Jonathan Wells and Meg Grey Wells of Flux, Spectacle is the first museum exhibition to explore the art, history, future, and influence of music videos. For a bit more about it, check out some photos from the exhibit, as well as our interview with Jonathan Wells that we did over the summer.
Since half of the IMVDb team has recently relocated to New York, well basically be setting up a desk at the museum (not really, of course, that would be totally against the rules. But, well be there often). If you live in New York, we definitely encourage you to check it out. But even if dont live in New York, but you live kinda nearby, we also recommend making it out to see the exhibit. Maybe rent a Zipcar or something.
Some of the exhibition highlights include:
MTV-era iconic videos including Devos Whip It (directed by Gerald Casale), Peter Gabriels Sledgehammer (Stephen R. Johnson), Madonnas Like a Prayer (Mary Lambert), Talking Heads Once in a Lifetime (Toni Basil and David Byrne), Nine Inch Nails, Closer (Mark Romanek), The Beastie Boyss Sabotage (Spike Jonze), and more.
Exclusive art photography from Floria Sigismondi, Stephane Sednaoui, Andreas Nilsson, Melodie McDaniel, Martin de Thurah, Arni & Kinski, Chris Milk (shot on the sets of their videos).
Original paint-splattered OK Go jump suits and paint guns from the award-winning "This Too Shall Pass" video, co-directed by James Frost and OK Go.
Original drawings by animation directors Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger for A-ha's groundbreaking "Take On Me" video, directed by Steve Barron.
Special presentation of Power, a collaboration between Kanye West and artist Marco Brambilla.
Interactive installations by Vincent Morisset, Chris Milk, James Frost, and Aaron Koblin for Arcade Fire, Johnny Cash, and Radiohead.
For the New York engagement of Spectacle, a new section highlighting hip-hop and how New York-based television shows Video Music Box and Yo! MTV Raps were instrumental in giving hip-hop artists mainstream exposure.
An historic look at the origins of music and the moving image, from 1920s era Vitaphone shorts and Fleischer Brotherss cartoons, through filmed music of the 1950s and 1960s.
If you read this blog, this is the exhibition for you! Make sure to check it out!
