'The Rolling Stones, Eleven Hands' by Michael Cooper, featuring the original 5 members of the band: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and Brian Jones.
Exhibitionism lands at Navy Pier this weekend, rockin out the vibrant history and persona of the band the world has come to know as
The Rolling Stones. The exhibit, chocked with over 500 pieces of rare and original memorabilia, showcases the band's life and impact through music, art, fashion, and pop culture.
From its 1962 London founding, the band has come to hold a major global presence. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and are still at it today. Known for leg-hugging leather, wiry hair, impassioned lyrics
, and the ever-famous
red tongue logo (by British designer, John Paschke),
The Rolling Stones persona is magnified through the Exhibitionism tour.
'Mick Jagger 143' by Andy Warhol. (Photo courtesy of Guy Hepner)
Showing in London, New York, and now Chicago before making its final stop in Sydney,
Exhibitionism marks the first time the band has revealed its personal archive to the public. Along with infographics and artifacts on the band's history, such as album art development, tour posters, and video recordings, the show also features personal items from the band: there's a collection of original instruments tinged with stage scuffs and custom touches, like Ronnie Wood's disc plate Zemaitis guitar with pirate map etching; there's a fashion gallery with 70 original costumes of lavish leathers and velvet vests by leading fashion designers such as Prada, Hedi Slimae, Dior, and Gucci; there are over 190 original works of photography, album covers, and edgy portraits by artists and designers including Andy Warhol, David Bailey, Jeff Koons, and Shepard Fairey; there are personal concert logs, travel diaries, and doodles for album concepts. Many of these items are incorporated into recreated sets of the band's stomping grounds--a crammed apartment, interactive recording studio, and backstage dressing room. With a jam-packed set of rock and roll gusto, this show is ready to go.
(Photo courtesy of Exhibitionism)
Following the wake of their boisterous concerts, The Stones' Exhibitionism is a production of grand scale. Sponsored by international iEC Exhibitions and DHL, Jackson, and Choose Chicago,
the Navy Pier set-up was put together by a team of 200 scenic artists, builders, painters, installers, and technicians to amp up 17,000 square feet with chord-ripping outreach
. Also sponsoring the show is world-renowned fashion designer, Tommy Hilfiger, who has always been
greatly inspired by style of The Stones. Specific to Exhibitionism, Hilfiger has created a limited edition collection of graphic T-shirts and custom jackets, which can be viewed and purchased at the show.
(Photo courtesy of Exhibitionism)
With The Rolling Stones comes hundreds of songs to sing to, styles to emulate, art to see, and a passion to be inspired by.
The entire setup of Exhibitionism is not only a walk through the history of The Stones, but a first-hand encounter with the pieces that have gone into and come out of it with them. Everything about the life of the band—the stories, music, fashion, artwork, and relentless energy—channels into the totality of what it broadcasts.
"The images you project are really important, " says Mick Jagger, lead singer and founding member of the band. "Musicians like to talk that it's only about the music. It isn't, of course. It's about what you wear, what you look like, what your attitudes are—all of those things."
The Rolling Stones (Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger) at the preview of Exhibitionism's London debut, April 2017. (Photo by Dave J. Hogan)
Exhibitionism opens at Navy Pier this Saturday April 15th and will run until July 30th. It is located at Navy Pier (600 E Grand), 2nd Floor, Festival Hall, Terrace B.
Ticket prices range from $32-$35 for adults, $25-$27 for students/seniors (age 65+)/military, and $20-$22 for juniors (ages 6-16). VIP tickets (which supply entry for 2 visits, a souvenir ticket and lanyard, and fast-track entry) are $80. Tickets can be purchased
here.
For more info, visit
http://www.stonesexhibitionism.com.
