The Morrison Hotel Gallery and Arthouse 18 paired up to bring a once in a lifetime Bob Dylan experience themed around the legendary D.A. Pennebaker film “Dont Look Back.”
At the exhibit opening on May 19th producer DA Pennebaker joined Dylan fans to celebrate the collection. Pennebaker shares, “This exhibition is a tribute to a film that 50 years ago I couldn’t get theatrical distributors to sit through the 2nd reel. Go figure.”
Today, the songs of 1965 remain relevant and hindsight reveals the impact Dylan had on music. Then the spectrum ranged from The Supremes to the Rolling Stones. As MHG co-founder Peter Blachley puts it, “While girls were screaming and crying for Elvis and the Beatles, they were taking notes for Dylan.” Bob Dylan was 24-years-old with a harmonica and lyrics that made everyone in the industry realize, the words matter.
For three weeks DA Pennebaker followed Dylan to create “Dont Look Back” which chronicles a tour in England including a Royal Albert Hall performance.
On exhibit are stills from the film’s iconic beginning reel of Dylan holding posters of the lyrics to “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” The noteworthy supporting cast includes: Joan Baez, Dylan’s manager Albert Grossman, his road manager Bob Neuwirth, Marianne Faithfull, John Mayall, and Allen Ginsberg.
Like the film, the exhibition captures pure moments and the real personalities of Dylan and his entourage.
Of the photos on exhibit, small editions of 10 prints of each that are signed and numbered by Pennebaker are available for purchase. Each purchased print includes a multiple image, original filmstrip from the “Dont Look Back” film. Several original movie posters are part of the exhibit and for sale. Hohner Harmonicas has issued a signature series harmonica that is hand signed and played by Bob Dylan, and packaged in a handsome wooden case available for purchase at the exhibit.
You can see the exhibit from Friday, May 20th thru Tuesday, June 14th, Morrison Hotel Gallery in SoHo at 116 Prince Street. The exhibit will also be shown at Morrison Hotel Gallery at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood from June 11th thru June 26th.
-Katie McCollom
Photos: ©D.A.Pennebaker-courtesy of Morrison Hotel Gallery