A sprawling tribute to one of the 20th century's most prolific and gifted folk and rock talents, "Bob Dylan, Rock explosion 61-66" runs through July 15th at Paris's Cite de la Musique museum near the Parc de la Villette. The exhibit, boasting two levels, is not only an homage to one of America's most prized artists, but also an exploration of the musical influences that morphed Dylan's sound from classic folk to folk rock over the years. Between 1961 and 1966, Dylan completed seven albums that revolutionized the history of popular music and propelled the Minnesota native once known as Robert Zimmerman to international stardom. This exhibition takes a bite out of Dylan's rich career and spotlights one of his most public and influential periods - speaking out about the Vietnam War, civil rights in America and rock n' roll.
A rich royal blue wall welcomes visitors, holding a patchwork of photos of Dylan's life between 1964-1965, by photographer Daniel Kramer. The 60 black and white images take us out on the road, in hotels and to the studio, with remarkable candidness. The Dylan we encounter here is more than the straight-faced, cigarette smoking cool artist many are used to seeing on album covers - he is also a goofy young kid who was trying to get a grip on fame in his early twenties.
The first stop is a trip down memory lane, where a handful of Hibbing, Minnesota school yearbooks are on display showing the young Robert Zimmerman. Family photos line the walls, offering a little-known glimpse of the star before he became one.
The exhibition continues with a look at some of the artists who influenced Dylan over the years. Guitars, sheet music, album covers and clothing line the walls from some of Dylan's idols at the time: Buddy Holly, Little Richard, the Mamas and the Papas, Cher and the Kingston Trio. A special section on Woody Guthrie reminds us of how much Dylan idolized the fellow folk musician.
The show, of course, would be incomplete without a healthy dose of music, and there, it does not disappoint. Dylan classics like "I Want You" and "Like a Rolling Stone" blare overhead, with special listening stations to follow along to classics "It Ain't Me Babe" and "The Times They are a Changin,'" whose lyrics are stenciled on the wall.
The downstairs section is slightly dark and drab, but offers an interesting picture of Dylan in France. Photos show the artist with French rocker Johnny Hallyday, actress Francoise Hardy and Hugues Aufray, who adapted some of Dylan's songs in the 1960s. A wall montage of newspaper articles featuring the artist are yet another testament of Dylan's importance in France.
The final piece is a large-screen showing of extracts from "Don't Look Back," a 1965 documentary by Don Alan Pennebaker. The film follows Dylan to concert tours in England, going backstage with the artist, accompanying him on interviews and in hotel rooms with Joan Baez. As the young Dylan - only 24 years old at the time - smarts off to journalists, goofs off in taxi cabs and smokes too much, it is hard to imagine the impact of his music on history.
Exhibit: Bob Dylan, Rock Explosion '61-'66
Through July 15th, 2012.
Location: Cite de la Musique
221 avenue Jean Jaures, 19th arrondissement
Metro: Porte de Pantin
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 84 44 84
Visit the official website for more information
Related: May Events in Paris
Image: © Daniel Kramer/Courtesy of the Cite de la Musique
