Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash

Opens February 6, 2010
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EMP|SFM is proud to present Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash. This dynamic new exhibition, organized by Experience Music Project, showcases some of the most memorable photography in the history of popular music, as chosen by legendary musician Graham Nash of supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash, who is also well-known as a photographer, collector and pioneer in digital imaging and printing.

As guest curator, Graham Nash, brings his rich musical history, keen eye and storytelling skills to an exhibition of 98 rock 'n' roll images taken by 40 of the world's greatest music photographers, including Anton Corbijn, Lynn Goldsmith, Annie Leibovitz, Jim Marshall, Neal Preston, Mick Rock, Francesco Scavullo and Nash himself.

While organizing the exhibition with Jasen Emmons, EMP's director of curatorial affairs, Nash considered thousands of images and received invaluable feedback from a curatorial advisory panel consisting of Deborah Klochko, executive director of the Museum of Photographic Arts; Sylvia Wolf, former photography curator at the Whitney and current director of the Henry Art Gallery; and Christian Peterson, associate curator of photography at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Nash selected what he considers to be great photographs that exemplify the spirit of rock 'n' roll, whether the artist is Elvis Presley, Sid Vicious or Johnny Cash. The images range from iconic shots to others that have never been published.

The exhibition includes an audio tour narrated by Nash. He shares insights about the images, artists and photographers, as well as his own connections to them.
Volunteer for Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash as a Gallery Interpreter or Interactive Facilitator. Click here for details.
On November 11, 2009, Chronicle Books will publish a 128-page companion publication, Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash. The book will feature all of the images from the exhibition, with text excerpts from Nash's audio tour, essays by Graham Nash and EMP's Curatorial Director, Jasen Emmons, and an audio CD of Nash's full audio tour.

Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash will travel to other venues starting in mid-2010. Main image: Detail, Graham Nash Self-Portrait at the Plaza Hotel, New York, New York, September 1974. Courtesy Graham Nash.