Laura Levine: Musicians - photography exhibit opens in July

Alan Vega, 1983

Back in May, I brought you news of a wonderful looking punk & new wave art show opening at Steven Kasher Gallery in July (July 21 - NOT the 14th as previously reported - thru August 19) - Rude and Reckless: Punk/Post Punk Graphics 1976-82. Well, we're in for a real treat because now, in conjunction with this show, the gallery will be also be presenting at the same time Laura Levine: Musicians. Laura's work is up there on the upper tier of music photographers - especially of the late 70's into the 80's ilk. One classic shot of classic artists after another - her collection of work is really something else. To follow is the info on the show. Be sure to get yourself down to the Kasher Gallery on West 23rd between July 21 and August 19 for both of these very very promising shows.

Glenn Branca, 1981

 "Laura Levine's photos are as vividly alive as the music of her subjects. Sometimes when you catch them out of the corner of your eye you'd swear they actually move." - Luc Sante

Steven Kasher Gallery is pleased to present Laura Levine: Musicians, an insider’s look at the artists at the forefront of rock, punk, indie rock, post-punk, hip-hop, New Wave, and No Wave. This is the first one-person gallery exhibition featuring Levine’s photography, including her vintage gelatin silver prints - many one of a kind. The show will feature over 35 vintage and modern prints.

Laura Levine: Musicians is being presented at Steven Kasher Gallery in conjunction with our exhibition Rude and Reckless: Punk/Post-Punk Graphics, 1976-82, the first New York exhibition surveying the extraordinary diversity of punk and post-punk graphic design.

Levine is highly esteemed as a photographer and documentarian of the downtown NYC, London and Los Angeles music scene in the 1980s and early 90s. Her portraits of such seminal figures as Bjork, R.E.M., the Clash, Afrika Bambaataa, Tina Weymouth, DNA, the Ramones, Beastie Boys, Iggy Pop, Chrissie Hynde, Joan Jett, Madonna, and many others are valued for their unpretentious intimacy and emotional power.

Exene & John Doe (X), 1982

Levine was the Chief Photographer and Photo Editor of the important underground paper New York Rocker. She published frequently in the Village Voice, Sounds, Rolling Stone, Spin, the New York Times, Trouser Press, and Creem. She worked for numerous record labels. Levine enjoyed wide access to musical greats, many of whom became close friends.

During the 1980s Levine was active in the downtown NYC gallery scene, showing frequently at East Village galleries such as the Fun Gallery and Bridgewater Gallery. More recently, Levine’s work was shown at Museum of Modern Art, where ten photographs were showcased in the exhibition Looking at Music 3.0. Other recent shows include Vivienne Westwood 1980-1989 at The Museum at FIT, and Backstage Pass: Rock and Roll Photography at the Portland Museum of Art. Her work is part of a current traveling exhibition Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present, originating at the Brooklyn Museum.

Levine’s photographs are in the collections of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Jerome de Noirmont, Michael Zilkha and many more.

Johnny Feedback (Kraut), 1982

In 1994 Levine stopped shooting. Her primary focus has evolved into a cross-disciplinary visual practice spanning painting, illustration and animation to directing music videos and documentary film. It is only recently she decided to revisit her photography archives.

Laura Levine: Musicians will be on view from July 21st through August 19th, 2011. Steven Kasher Gallery is located at 521 W. 23rd St., New York, NY 10011. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm.