Art in Concert
TIM OAKLEY
GARY HOUSTON
EMEK
This exhibit sponsored by:
This year’s featured exhibit, “Art of the Album and Concert” invites the public to view the work of three of the top poster artists in the world; Emek, Gary Houston, and Tim Oakley.
The men are Portland locals, but have created original works for international musical greats, including Elton John, Rolling Stones, Soundgarden, Willie Nelson, Foo Fighters, and the Grateful Dead.
The Art of the Album and Concert exhibit promises to make patrons look at the visual work and creativity that goes into the music industry in a whole new light.
The trio are teaming up to create a special installation spanning art from their dynamic careers. Look for concert posters, album covers, signed books, even artfully-crafted drum skins, lamps and more! No need to wait in a long concert line, select limited edition posters will be for sale at the Festival!
Hawaii born & raised, Tim was an artist from the start. By 1967 and influenced by the likes of Rick Griffin, Peter Phillips, Ed Roth & the Paris Street Scene, at the age of 10, Tim was airbrushing and painting skateboards, surfboards, shirts and anything he could find for friends. Tim studied at NYU/Art Institute for three years before heading to San Francisco, LA and soon was freelancing for companies like: Capitol, Atlanta, Columbia & Rhino Records. In 1992, Tim moved to Portland for a new way of life and soon opened Oakley Design.
Emek graduated with a Major in Art, and a Minor in Unemployment. His first poster commission was done immediately after the L.A. riots/uprising of 1992, for a unity rally and concert held on Martin Luther King Day. "On scratchboard, I depicted an image of Martin Luther King Jr., rising above a concert crowd. No copies of this poster remain, but it does hold special meaning for me as the seed of my career". In Emek's posters, psychedelic '60s imagery collides with '90s post-industrial iconography. To this collision of the organic vs. the mechanical worlds he adds humor, social commentary and fantasy. Even in the smallest details there are messages. All of Emek's artwork is originally hand-drawn and then hand-silk screened for each actual concert or event, usually in limited editions.
Gary is a graphic designer, illustrator, and printmaker who lives in Portland, OR. He produces posters and prints under the moniker of Voodoo Catbox.
Houston utilizes a variety of mediums and old school techniques-mainly scratchboard, inking, and hand-cut rubylith film-to achieve his images. His hands-on process continues as he screen prints his work. In doing so, Houston gets his cooties on every aspect of creating a finished poster or print. These are printed in limited editions. Work is done for bands, management, tours, venues and festivals