The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago has been chosen as the U.S. venue for the David Bowie is… exhibit, which opened to great fanfare London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. The MCA exhibit is set to begin in September, and will run through January, 2015.
David Bowie is… exhibits over 300 pieces, including costumes, handwritten lyrics, album artwork, set designs and rare performance media taken from Bowie’s almost 50 years as an entertainer. The exhibit is touted as the first-ever wide examination of Bowie’s broad influence on contemporary art, fashion, design, theater and contemporary culture. David Bowie is… also surveys the Thin White Duke’s creative process, as well as his collaborations with musicians, photographers and filmmakers.
In tandem with the exhibit, Chicago artists will cover select classic David Bowie albums and songs for a series called Bowie Changes.
On November 15th, Chicagoan glam rocker Bobby Conn will cover Bowie’s 1976 album Station to Station in a live set at the MCA. Station to Station is widely regarded as one of Bowie’s finest works, and was the vehicle for his last great character, The Thin White Duke.
Here’s a live clip of “Station to Station”:
On November 21, musicians are performing classic Bowie love songs, and on November 22, windy city sonic experimentalists Disappears will cover Bowie’s 1977 Classic Low. Also regarded as one of Bowie’s most influential albums, Low was the first of the “Berlin Trilogy”, a series of collaborations with famed record producer Brian Eno.
Bowie’s “Warszawa” from Low:
Bowie released his first album in ten years in 2013, entitled The Next Day, to favorable reviews.
David Bowie, “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” from The Next Day:
Image via Wikimedia Commons