The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery will recognize the influence of the “King of Rock n’ Roll,” Elvis Presley (1935–1977), on American life, history and culture with two exhibitions in 2010. “One Life: Echoes of Elvis” opens on Presley’s 75th birth anniversary and is a one-room exhibition devoted to the evolution and influence of Presley’s image after his death. The traveling exhibition, “Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer,” shows a young musician just about to rise to fame.
“Elvis Presley” by Mark Stutzman. Acrylic on illustration board, 1993. Image: (16.7 x 20.8 cm), 6 9/16 x 8 3/16 inches. Board: (25.1 x 31.1 cm), 9 7/8 x 12 1/4 inches. U.S. Postal Service-Stamp Services, Rossyln, VA. ©U.S. Postal Service EXH.EP.02
“One Life: Echoes of Elvis” Opens Jan. 8, 2010
“One Life: Echoes of Elvis” explores the image and story of Presley since his death. The world remains enamored with Presley’s music and image even though he died more than 30 years ago. His records continue to sell by the millions, his home is the second-most-visited private residence in the United States (second only to the White House) and public interest in his music, career and life has yet to subside.
“The life of Elvis Presley continues to fascinate us,” said Martin Sullivan, director of the museum. “‘One Life: Echoes of Elvis’ explores how Presley continues to generate intrigue through portraits created after his death; ‘Elvis at 21’ captures that moment just before his catapult to superstardom.”
“Echoes of Elvis” includes works by Robert Arneson, Ralph Wolfe Cowan, William Eggleston and Red Grooms. Howard Finster’s folk-art portraits of Presley as a baby and a soldier are both human and tributary moments in Finster’s glorified ideal of the singer. Also included is the U.S. Postal Service commemorative stamp created by Mark Stutzman. Released in 1993, the Presley stamp is the most popular stamp of all time, with a printing of 500 million.
“Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer” Opens Oct. 30
The museum opens the second exhibition about Presley, “Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer,” Oct. 30. Wertheimer was hired by RCA Victor in 1956 to shoot promotional images of a recently signed 21-year-old recording artist. Wertheimer had unparalleled access to Presley and documented him on the road, backstage, in concert, in the recording studio and at home in Memphis, Tenn. “Colonel” Tom Parker, Presley’s manager, restricted contact just a short time later. The photographs document a remarkable time when Elvis could sit alone at a drugstore lunch counter.
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the stories of America through the individuals who have shaped U.S. culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts, and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists who speak American history.
http://npg.si.edu
