Special Exhibits Gallery, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of County Music Museum’s current exhibit, Our Living Past: Platinum Portraits of Southern Music Makers, features the work of Timothy Duffy. Duffy, who has been photographing musicians and still lifes of southern scenes for 35 years, is the founder of Music Maker Relief Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Hillsborough, N.C., that helps elderly musicians meet their basic needs so that they can share their music with the world.
Duffy’s work features 25 palladium prints created from his wet-plate photographs. The portraits featured in the exhibit range from little known harmonica players and blues singers like Dr. Dixon, Algia Mae Hinton, and Lena Mae Perry to more famous, contemporary artists. Soul singer Sharon Jones, slide guitar virtuoso Derek Trucks, and blues legend Taj Mahal have all had their portraits taken in Duffy’s unique style and are also featured in the exhibit. These evocative images give a glimpse into the rich historical narrative and vital culture of Southern traditional music. Duffy’s life work – to preserve this culture – takes on a tangible form through Our Living Past and works to ensure that these important living links to our history get the recognition they deserve.
The High Road Agency was pleased to take part in bringing this project to life for BCM. We created various website, e-mail and social media, and story graphics, along with the window billboard on the front of the museum building. HR also produced a number of exhibit graphics, including informational, caption, and title graphic panels, while also handling the printing of all graphics and working with the vendors on installation.
The result is an incredible display that pays homage to the historical importance of Southern traditional music – definitely an exhibition you shouldn’t miss!
Fun Facts
1
It’s not all portraits, there’s also several pieces of folk art made by Music Maker artists on display with the photographs.
2
25 palladium prints created from Duffy’s wet-plate photographs.
3
Taj Mahal is a featured portrait and he actually played at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion!
See it for Yourself
Dates: April 18, 2021 – September 30, 2021
Location: Special Exhibits Gallery, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
“The Birthplace of Country Music Museum hosts special exhibits several times throughout a year, and we have hosted nearly 20 special exhibits since opening the museum in 2014. Our team has worked with the High Road Agency on a few of these exhibits over this time, and this spring we asked High Road to design panel graphics, promotional materials, and create the overall design of our latest special exhibit Our Living Past: Platinum Portraits of Southern Music Makers – the designer even came up with the lyrical subtitle for the exhibit! We enjoyed working with Katie, Matt, and the entire High Road team to help us bring this exhibit to life, and the entire project was a great experience. From concept designs, to creation of graphics, to printing panels and then installation, High Road continued to be a great partner to BCM, and we are excited to welcome visitors to the museum to see this special exhibit.”
Kim Davis
Marketing Director of the Birthplace of Country Music
