Art/Rock/Revelry: Artifacts & Oral History from Philadelphia’s Alternative Music & Club Scene of the Late 70s to Mid 80s
On view through September 18, 2022
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 6, 2022, 12pm to 5pm
Explore Philly’s vibrant era of do-it-yourself spirit and dance-til-you-drop passion through show flyers, posters, zines, photos, recordings, and oral history.
While touring acts saw Philadelphia as a place to warm up before their New York gigs, local artists didn’t shrink in New York’s shadow, but fostered creativity and community in converted warehouses, night clubs, record shops, clothing stores, and college radio—reveling in their independence from the mainstream.
We’re talking punk, post-punk, new wave, no wave, art rock, poetry, fashion, and performance in places like East Side Club, The Hot Club, The Wet Spot, Funk Dungeon, Omni’s, Starlite, Painted Bride…the list goes on and continues to expand throughout the life of the exhibit, as we want to hear from you!
See our display of artifacts from personal collections, listen to the music, watch videos of old performances as well as new interviews with those who were on the scene—artists, musicians, DJs, revelers—and then make your own contribution. We’ll have materials and wall space dedicated to the ongoing documentation of this rich tapestry of Philly music history and culture. Share your story!
Presented in collaboration with Brewerytown Beats, JoeyBruno MusicArchives, Red Pedal Media, and Jere Edmunds, with contributions from Jim Meneses, Bobby Startup, Dennis McHugh, Joe Ankenbrand, Kenn Kweder, Sheva Golkow, Elliott Levin, Rikki Ercoli, Matt Marello, Frank Blank Moriarty, and more! Produced by Alyssa Shea.
Entry to the reception is covered by a $10 Museum admission ticket. Advance tickets available here; walk-ins welcome.
