Set to coincide with Dead & Company’s “Dead Forever – Live at Sphere” concerts through May 17, Animazing Gallery in Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas will host a Grateful Dead Art and Photography Exhibit with a series of events in honor of the band’s 60th Anniversary.
The retrospective exhibit and sale will showcase the work of renowned Grateful Dead artists including psychedelic rock artist Stanley Mouse (creator of the Grateful Dead’s iconic skeleton and roses image, as well as countless Iconic Grateful Dead imagery), Jay Blakesberg (long time photographic documentarian of the Grateful Dead experience) and photographer Chloe Weir (a young talent and daughter of Grateful Dead and Dead & Company founding member Bobby Weir). Additionally, the exhibit will showcase historical Grateful Dead images from the earliest years of the band curated by Ricki Blakesberg from Retro Photo Archive. Animazing will also be debuting the “Jerry Gnome” a limited edition cast bronze 27-inch-tall statue celebrating founding Grateful Dead member Jerry Garcia created by Bay Area artist & metal sculptor Zim Caroselli. Zim was one of the original artists who created the giant “Puppets and Floats” at the Grateful Dead’s annual Mardis Gras concerts in the Bay Area in the mid 1980s and 1990s.
A series of personal appearances by the artists at Animazing Gallery will allow fans an opportunity to meet and chat with the artists. Appearances will include:
- Jay Blakesberg and Chloe Weir on March 22, April 19, and May 10 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. In addition to mingling in the gallery, Weir and Blakesberg will share stories about the photos on display.
- Stanley Mouse on April 18 and 19 from 12 noon to 3 pm.
- Jay Blakesberg Book Signing on March 29 at 12 noon – celebrating his new fine art coffee table book – Dead & Company: Rainbow Full of Sound.
Additionally, Animazing Gallery will host a special event on Bicycle Day, April 19, celebrating the psychedelic revolution. In addition to personal appearances by all artists, the event will feature unique Blotter Art produced with Shakedown Gallery’s Matthew Rick and will be on display and for sale at Animazing.
The exhibition will also include a life-size, lifelike stature of Jerry Garcia created as a tribute to the iconic musician and founding member of the Grateful Dead by artist Larry “Rubber” Torro. Also featured will be a custom Gibson SG guitar that includes Jerry Garcia’s original stage played humbucker pickup. The guitar was customized by San Francisco guitar tech, Gary Brawer in 2007.
“This will be a powerful show, featuring some of the most recognizable Grateful Dead art and photography in one place,” said Nick Leone, owner of Animazing Gallery. “This collection really shows many of the most iconic works that have visually defined the Grateful Dead’s long strange trip! They have captured and created imagery that documents this pop culture zeitgeist that is now 60 years in the making.”
For more information visit www.animazing.com or Instagram @animazinggallery.
