A new photo exhibit at the Mill Valley Community Center explores the arc of Blakesberg’s star-studded career. Dubbed “Dark + Light – The Rock and Roll Photography of Jay Blakesberg,” the show features 30 images curated by the Harvey Milk Center’s Executive Director Dave Christensen. The photos have been culled from Blakesberg’s 39-year photography career and focus on all aspects of his rock-and-roll adventure. They’ll be on display at the Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, throughout April, with an opening reception set for Tuesday, April 3 from 5:30-8:30 as part of the Mill Valley Arts Commission‘s First Tuesday Artwalk.
“I have felt for a long time that what I was doing is visual anthropology,” says Blakesberg, who prints his photos as a dye-sublimation Chromaluxe Metal print. “I truly believe that the modern day rock-and-roll population, both the artists and fans, are a unique tribe whose tale should be documented and told.”
Blakesberg’s first paid photography assignment came in September 1979 when the Aquarian Weekly paid him $15 to run two photographs in the free periodical. In November 1987, Blakesberg landed his first assignment with Rolling Stone magazine, photographing a free U2 concert in downtown San Francisco.
The Community Center exhibition features images taken from the late 1970’s up to today, including magazine photos of Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, Jerry Garcia and Carlos Santana, as well as performance photographs from the likes of the Grateful Dead, Mavis Staples, Radiohead, Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris.
The 411: “Dark + Light – The Rock and Roll Photography of Jay Blakesberg,” a new photo exhibit at the Mill Valley Community Center in April, explores the arc of Blakesberg’s career. The photos are on display at the Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, throughout April, with an opening reception set for Tuesday, April 3 from 5:30-8:30 as part of the Mill Valley Arts Commission‘s First Tuesday Artwalk. MORE INFO.