A New Look at The Boss: Exhibit features iconic images of Bruce Springsteen
By Mary Ann Bourbeau
WEST LONG BRANCH – As an affiliate of the Grammy Museum of Los Angeles, Monmouth University has the opportunity to have some exclusive works in its galleries, the latest being a Bruce Springsteen traveling photography exhibit.
The Grammy Museum has curated a photo retrospective, “Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey,” which opens at Rechnitz Hall’s DiMattio Gallery on Sept. 8. The exhibit runs through Dec. 22.
An opening reception with the photographers and a Q&A with Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 27. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.
“We are over-the-moon excited to have this exhibit here,” said Eileen Chapman, associate director for the Center of the Arts at Monmouth University. “One advantage of working with the Grammy Museum is that we are able to take advantage of their traveling exhibits.”
The exhibit features 45 iconic images of The Boss, with photos taken by noted Springsteen photographers Danny Clinch, Ed Gallucci, Eric Meola, Frank Stefanko and Bruce’s sister, Pamela Springsteen. Additionally, the exhibit will feature video interviews with each of the photographers, produced by the Grammy Museum.
“Our goal with this exhibition is to define the career of Bruce Springsteen in an entirely new light, as captured by these five incredible photographers,” said Santelli, a former professor at Monmouth University. “Each of these photographers was able to artfully document Bruce’s world, at different stages in his career. We are honored to partner with each of them in order to help tell the story of one of the most important figures in American music.”
The majority of the photos are casual shots of Springsteen off-stage.
“Typically, you see live shots of artists performing, and those can be pretty riveting, but when you adore an artist, you want nothing more than to get a look behind the scenes,” said Chris Morrison, traveling exhibitions manager for the Grammy Museum. “Getting a rare look into any talented person that touches your heart is pretty cool.”
Four additional live performance photographs, shot in 1974 by Barry Schneier, will be showcased. These photos were taken during the now-famous Springsteen concert at Harvard Square Theater where Rolling Stone music journalist Jon Landau claimed, “I have seen the future of rock and roll, and its name is Bruce Springsteen.”
“Even though Bruce had released two albums by that point, little attention was paid to them,” said Morrison. “That show opened the eyes of a music journalist, which went a long way to having the industry and music fans take notice of the artist. The following year, Bruce released ‘Born to Run,’ and the rest is history.”
The exhibit debuted at the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma before making its way to Monmouth University. It seems fitting since the two singers share much common ground.
“Bruce is sort of a modern day Woody Guthrie,” said Morrison. “He’s the blue collar guy-next-door who speaks the heart and soul of the average Joe, singing about relationships, jobs and the struggle to pay the bills. Bruce has always been someone who connected with people all around the world.”
Springsteen’s recording career spans more than 40 years, beginning with 1973’s “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” He has released 18 studio albums, garnered 20 Grammy Awards, won an Oscar, has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was a 2009 recipient of Kennedy Center Honors and was named 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year by The Recording Academy.
The photo exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.monmouth.edu.
Arts and entertainment writer Mary Ann Bourbeau can be reached at mbourbeau@ tworivertimes.com.
