Image: © Allan Tannenbaum/SoHoBlues.com

DANBURY, CONN. — The Western Connecticut State University Department of Art will present a group exhibition, “It’s only Rock & Roll: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Artists Who Capture its Spirit and Culture” from Thursday, Feb. 6, through Thursday, March 6, 2014, at The Gallery at Higgins Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. An opening reception will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 6 in the gallery. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public.  Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Artists whose work will be exhibited include photographers Allan Tannenbaum and Mallory Corr, of New York, and Bibiana Huang Matheis, of Pawling, N.Y.; and illustrators Mike Dubois of Woodstock, N.Y., and AJ Masthay, of West Hartford. 

Dubois’ work has been described as visionary, surrealistic and psychedelic. His unique style sets him apart as an original. Working in mixed media, oil painting and computer graphics, DuBois has established himself as a pioneer in the work of contemporary music art, with commissions by the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, Hot Tuna, Levon Helm, Santana, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and the Jimmy Hendrix estate.

Masthay blends ancient techniques with modern vision to create truly unique works of art. Priding himself on being a craftsman, each step of his process is done exclusively by hand, utilizing no digital instruments. Masthay has created work for Widespread Panic, Umphrey’s McGee and Yonder Mountain String Band, along with festivals including Furthur, Telluride Bluegrass, RockyGrass, Northwest String Summit, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and Christmas Jam.

Tannenbaum, while working for the Soho News during the 1970s, relentlessly covered the art world, music scene, politics, show business and nightlife in and around New York City. The highpoint of this period was producing some of the last intimate photographs of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. His photographs have graced the covers of Time magazine three times and Newsweek five times, and have been published in the book “New York in the 70s.”

Matheis is a fine arts photographer whose work goes beyond traditional music and concert photographs. She attempts to capture the soul of the music and the musician. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums, and has been widely published in newspapers, magazines and books. More than a decade later her artistic portraits are part of the musical historical record.

Corr, a New York University student, has already received recognition from Complex magazine as one of the “50 Greatest Music Photographers Right Now,” for her attention to detail and experimental angles of musicians.

For more information, contact Visual Arts Assistant Lori Robeau at (203) 837-8403.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.