As much as I want nothing to do with the state of Florida, I'd be lying if I -- who lives a stone's throw away from several of the most celebrated art museums in the world -- didn't admit to having exhibition envy after seeing this photo from "Torn Apart: Punk + New Wave Graphics, Fashion and Culture, 1976-86," on display through Feb. 2 at the Orlando(!) Museum of Art. (There's probably a snooty joke in here about how only in the Sunshine State would music posters qualify as works of art, but it probably says as much about me as it does them since I totally agree that they are!)
Andrew Dineley writes:
[The exhibition] brings together an extensive collection of punk graphics and ephemera, Malcolm Garrett, MBE’s collection of garments designed by Malcolm McLaren/Vivienne Westwood for Seditionaries and SEX, and Sheila Rock’s photography. One of the most comprehensive punk exhibitions to date, "Torn Apart" highlights the brilliant designs of the era and the designers who created them. Graphic design and music in the punk era were closely fused; designs in print were the public face of the music, with the visual often as important as the music itself. The exhibition includes iconic works by Jamie Reid (Sex Pistols), Peter Saville (New Order/Joy Division), Raymond Pettibon (Black Flag), and Barney Bubbles (Elvis Costello). On view are approximately 400 posters, 200 flyers, 400 pieces of ephemera (zines, clothing, buttons, stickers, etc.), over 30 garments, and 30 photographs by Sheila Rock.
As Prefab Sprout would say: Swoon!
See if you can spot Blondie's "Parallel Lines" and "Eat to the Beat" in the photos above and below.
Learn more HERE.
In addition to transporting me back to my childhood bedroom -- and those of friends Greg and Mark -- I found the cutoff year of 1986 to be interesting. When I surveyed a bunch of my Gen X friends to come up with lists of favorite new wave songs and albums, I got pushback from some for choosing anything beyond 1984, which struck me as a tad premature. I graduated from high school in 1985 -- with Tears for Fears ruling the charts -- and I can't think of a more quintessential new wave band than those guys.
Nonetheless, as appealing as the Orlando show is, I'll be settling for browsing the catalog online as I already have to give money to another problematic state later in the week since we're traveling to Arizona to celebrate my brother Terence's birthday!
Below: Arizona walls of sound. 😎
In my room, summer 1983
My cat Tweet in 1983
Greg in his bedroom, circa 1984
With Chantal in 1986
With Greg and Chantal
Chantal's got milk
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