RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped | Contemporary Jewish Museum
Jay Blakesberg, Rainbow Gathering at Modoc National Forest, CA, July 4, 1984. © Jay Blakesberg.
Written by Nicole Miller
The Contemporary Jewish Museum showcases culturally significant moments in music from 1978-2008 in RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped. This solo survey, which features the iconic film photography of Jay Blakesberg, explores the revolutionary San Francisco rock ‘n’ roll scene, encapsulating the restless spirit of the counterculture movements following the social phenomena of 1967, the Summer of Love. Blakesberg began his photography practice documenting popular bands as a music-obsessed teenager in New Jersey. He eventually followed the Grateful Dead out west, inspiring Blakesberg to capture musical legends in their element, delivering live performances that embody the raw fervor and depth of living in the Bay Area. Blakesberg later transitioned into portraiture, continuing to convey the personas of influential musicians, such as Jerry Garcia, Neil Young, and Tracy Chapman, and in turn, exemplifying the zeitgeist of the late 20th century.
Jay Blakesberg, Red Hot Chili Peppers at Lollapalooza, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, July 18, 1992. © Jay Blakesberg.
In the 1984 image above, Blakesberg photographs a Rainbow Gathering in Modoc National Forest, CA. Rooted in hippie culture, Rainbow Gatherings are utopian-inspired communities who congregate in isolated forests for weeks at a time. Blakesberg captures the essence of peace, freedom, and love the rainbow gatherings aim to epitomize. The lens lands on a woman who stands in the foreground of the photo, her arms rest atop her head, and with her eyes closed she lifts her face towards the sun and the natural landscape. We may go as far to say she is in a state of exaltation, as she celebrates the beauty of nature, removed from capitalism and consumerism. Blakesberg reveals the ideals of a utopian vision with a single picture, as the subject basks in the warmth of the present moment, radiating a sense of positive acceptance of the ebbs and flows of life. However, the 1980s were not all-consumed by this optimistic mindset. For example, the 1980’s was plagued by the AIDS epidemic, which became an ongoing public health crisis, resulting in the deaths of millions. Yet this photograph represents the hope for a better future, one that embraces nonviolence, free love, and harmony with nature.
Jay Blakesberg, Neil Young, Woodside, CA, October 30, 1991. © Jay Blakesberg.
The alternative rock band, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, delivered an unforgettable performance at Lollapalooza in 1992. Blakesberg highlights the dynamism of the lead singer, Anthony Kiedis, who is shown jumping high into the air, his long hair billowing backwards. The neon green lights, heavy smoke, and optical set design serve to create an electrifying atmosphere enhanced by psychedelia. Kiedis performs shirtless, bearing his tattoos, and wears black and white checkered pants that emphasize the visual op art. He is punk counterculture personified, as he channels the rebellious nature of the movement and its anti-establishment values. Blakesberg is able to communicate the festival experience through a still film shot, not only informing his audience on the environment, but also challenging viewers’ expectations on how much emotion can be evoked from a photograph.
Jay Blakesberg, Beck in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, September 24, 2000. © Jay Blakesberg.
In addition to documenting pop culture moments, Blakesberg produced many portraits of famous musicians, such as the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Neil Young. In this 1991 image, Young stares broodingly into the camera as his long hair stirs in the breeze. Cladded in a leather jacket, the toughness in his gaze reflects his deeply personal lyrics and his resolve to return to prominence in the 1990s. Blakesberg perfectly presents Young’s musical evolution alongside his own artistic one.
