Art and music fans alike will enjoy the rock art of Joshua Marc Levy, creator of album cover art, posters and more for bands such as AC\/DC and Grateful Dead. The opening reception takes place on Sunday, December 4, from 6\u20139 p.m. at Pulp under the Orange Peel and features a live performance by Americana and folk-inspired band The Paper Crowns. The show will run until January 1.<\/p>\n
For over 20 years, Levy has represented local and national bands with his intricate, layered, often psychedelic works. Pieces include concert screen prints, album cover art, photography, ink drawings and preliminary and post-project collages.<\/p>\n
“2016 was a huge year,” says Levy. “Never before have I worked with so many bands\u2014over 60 this year alone. The first band I worked with, Blackberry Smoke, I saw live at the Christmas Jam. Two days later I was on the phone with the drummer working out a poster for The Orange Peel.”<\/p>\n
Levy\u2019s portfolio includes renderings for well-known bands Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes, Dinosaur Jr and Ben Harper. He has also created promotional works for local musicians including The Broadcast, The Fritz, The Dirty Badgers, Nest Egg, Hard Rocket, Ouroboros Boys and The River Rats.<\/p>\n
Levy recently transitioned from purely digital approaches to a combination of digital and traditional techniques. “After 20 years on the computer, my eyes were hurting and my hands weren’t happy,” he says. “I got back into hand-drawing my posters and album art this year, using a uniball ink pen and fine art paper. So the majority of my time is spent working on the black layer. I then color the posters in the computer in layers. This adds a whole new organic look to my rock art posters. Plus, I now have the original drawings which I can treasure or sell.”<\/p>\n
There are around 36 pieces of art in the show, including original ink drawings, prints, collages and finished posters. The opening reception is free and open to the public, and the exhibit is accessible throughout December with a concert ticket to The Orange Peel. Rare prints framed by BlackBird Frame and Art will be available for purchase at the opening.<\/p>\n