JM Newsletter: Nashville Art Show - Canadian Tour Coming

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TonyBClubManager

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My Name: Tony

JM Newsletter: Nashville Art Show - Canadian Tour Coming

« on: March 23, 2012, 09:24:40 am »

TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM TO EXHIBIT THE ARTWORK OF JOHN MELLENCAMP
The paintings of John Mellencamp will be featured in his first museum exhibition, Nothing Like I Planned: The Art of John Mellencamp, April 12, 2012 to June 10th, 2012 at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. Organized by curator Renee White, the exhibition contains 52 paintings, spanning four decades of output. Lois Riggins-Ezzell, Executive Director of the museum and a longtime supporter said, "For more than 30 years, I have been an ardent admirer of John Mellencamp, the heartland rock and populist champion of the people. More recently, I’ve become a serious devotee of John Mellencamp, the extraordinarily talented artist. We are very pleased to introduce John Mellencamp the Artist to a museum audience."

Born in 1951 in Seymour, Indiana, a descendent of German immigrants, Mellencamp played music from the age of fourteen. His interest in painting came even earlier. "I started messing around with oil paints when I was about ten but, you know, without instruction," he remembers.

Eventually, he focused on music, and by 1980, was earning accolades. Two years later, he won a Grammy. Even with a string of hit recordings reflecting diverse musical styles and innovating what would come to be known as the Americana genre, Mellencamp continued painting as a means of personal self-exploration. His first subjects were friends, family and landscapes reminiscent of the French impressionists. Mellencamp’s formal art training was sparse. "I briefly studied at the New York Art Students League. There was so much information that I’m, to this day, still trying to learn and put into practice what my teacher taught me back then," he admits.

The award-winning songwriter, actor and musician shuns being designated "rock star" or "pop singer" and has a long history of musical exploration and innovation. One of his current projects is Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, a musical in collaboration with best-selling author Stephen King. He has long strived to use his music to promote social justice, and to underscore the plight of the American family farmer. He was acknowledged for these efforts with both the Woody Guthrie Award and ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award.

Bringing the weight of personal history to both his music and art, Mellencamp always returns home to the state of Indiana where he still resides. A testament to the power of place and authenticity permeates his works.

His portraiture has evolved to a personal style that some critics describe as similar to the dark and shadowy paintings of the German Expressionists. This search for expressiveness by means of exaggeration and distortion of line and color in favor of a simplified style intended to carry an emotional impact is seen in the recent oil painting, Savannah GA.

Mellencamp, like German Expressionist Max Beckmann, exalts the individual, a man standing in full frontal pose opposite the viewer. With arms out of sync with each other, the facial expression is dour and contemplative. There is an intense aspect of an inner world, an emotional force, something that explains why this style, like those earlier German Expressionism, is best manifested in times of social crisis and upheaval. Mellencamp understands the inequality of modern society. His realism is inseparable from his philosophical concerns; he provokes so that people will ask questions about the world around them. When asked about his work, Mellencamp responded, "I learned a long time ago that you can’t control what people think. Do I have a mission of what I want to accomplish with this? I’ve already accomplished it. There it is. There’s the song. There’s the painting."

A fully illustrated color catalogue with an essay by nationally- known art writer, Hilarie M. Sheets will accompany the exhibition.

The Tennessee State Museum is open free to the public. Hours are: Tuesday-Saturday 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.; Sunday 1 to 5 P.M. Closed Mondays.

Painting Details: Savannah GA, 2012, oil, 48" x 48". Mellencamp In His Art Studio photo credit: Jerry Atnip.

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CANADIAN TOUR TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK
Specifics are being worked out for a new June/July Canadian leg of the No Better Than This Tour! Watch for an announcement and ticket sales info next week.

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JOHN TO INDUCT DONOVAN INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced the names of those who will be serving as presenters for the new inductees who will honored at a ceremony in Cleveland on April 14. John will be doing the honors for Donovan, an artist for whom he's had great affinity dating back to his early teen age years. His admiration is such that he invited Donovan to be part of his 2005 tour and duetted with him on "Sunshine Superman" at every concert date. John has also contributed liner notes to the forthcoming "Essential Donovan" compilation from Sony Legacy. For further information on the 2012 Induction please see Billboard.com

Click HERE to watch John perform "Sunshine Superman" live on tour with Donovan at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, IN on April 11, 2005

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GHOST BROTHERS TICKET DISCOUNT & VIP TICKET PROMOTION
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, a chilling new musical with music and lyrics by John Mellencamp and book by Stephen King, world premieres at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA April 4th through May 13th, 2012. Check out the TV commercial for the project and learn more HERE.

We are offering a $10 discount off regularly priced tickets if you use the code MELLENCAMP10 during your ticket purchase.

Head over to http://www.alliancetheatre.org/ghostbrothers to order tickets or call 404.733.5000 or stop by the box office at the Alliance. Be sure to mention the promo code!

VIP TICKET CONTEST: Every single ticket purchase using the promo code MELLENCAMP10 during checkout, prior to April 1st (11:59 pm, March 31, 2012), receives an entry into a sweepstakes to win a VIP experience consisting of:
- Two opening night center orchestra tickets
- Two tickets to the VIP opening night party at the Four Seasons in Atlanta (transportation and lodging not included)

Fans may still purchase $10 off tickets throughout the run of the show, but will not be entered into the contest as of April 1st.

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John Mellencamp Marquee Mug

This white 11 oz. coffee mug reads 'John Mellencamp'.
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This pigment black men's tee reads 'John Mellencamp 2010 2011 No Better Than This' on front. 100% Cotton.
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As always, thank you for your continued support!!

TonyB -Webmaster, Mellencamp.com - [email protected]

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TonyB Webmaster, Mellencamp.com
Email [email protected] for assistance or questions!

sheilafarmer

One of the Crazy Ones...

Posts: 407

Re: JM Newsletter: Nashville Art Show - Canadian Tour Coming

« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2012, 01:41:04 pm »

As a painter myself I am so glad to hear that he still paints, I know he has been through a lot the last couple of years. I always admired his portrait paintings they have deep emotions in them. I could just sit down with John over a cup of coffee and talk about his art all day. Grin

I have to see how far it is and try to go.


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mitch1982

One of the Crazy Ones...

Posts: 278

Re: JM Newsletter: Nashville Art Show - Canadian Tour Coming

« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2012, 02:50:07 pm »

Quote from: TonyBClubManager on March 23, 2012, 09:24:40 am

Lordy, Lordy, can my summer dreams be coming true...perhaps Toronto again? Hoping and praying it will be! Anxiously waiting for cities and details. Woohoo!

CANADIAN TOUR TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK

Specifics are being worked out for a new June/July Canadian leg of the No Better Than This Tour! Watch for an announcement and ticket sales info next week.


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