The Biggs Museum of Art has a new exhibit featuring concert photos from artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, and David Bowie.
The exhibit called “Front Row Center: Icons of Rock, Blues and Soul” was shot by photographer Larry Hulst.
Hulst was a Vietnam veteran who returned to San Francisco just as the music scene was taking off, but continued to work for the military for 27 years, photographing for the government by day and elbowing his way to the front of concerts with his film camera by night.
Hulst says he believes the golden years for live music were from 1968-1979.
“It was just the definition of an eight- or 10-year period where the music was inspirational, it wasn’t downtrodden like punk-rock music," Hulst says. "I don't know, it was just a happier time. And more great albums came out of that period than the 90’s.”
Biggs curator Laura Fravel says many of the photos were published in magazines like Rolling Stone and even became album art for some artists.
She explains the setup of the show at the museum.
“We decided to start with that moment where Larry comes back from Vietnam and just discovers this music scene in San Francisco," Fravel says. "And then it kind of winds through there to a room on the Blues, to a lot of British performers who were touring in the U.S. and then ends up with classic rock basically, everything you’d hear on a classic rock station, Zeppelin, ACDC, Metallica, in all their glory.”
She notes the show is also bilingual, and they hope to reach more Spanish-speaking audiences than they have previously.
The show is open now through June 20.
It also includes a photography competition asking the public to submit up to three of their own concert photos through April 11. Hulst will choose his 30 favorites to commemorate the Biggs Museum’s 30th anniversary, and the winners will be displayed on a loop in the middle of the exhibit.
