In her first Los Angeles exhibit, “The First Picture Show,” photographer Deone Jahnke turns her lens toward the best and brightest in the contemporary Americana music scene—Dave Alvin, Jim Lauderdale, James Intveld, Dead Rock West, Abigail Washburn, and Justin Townes Earle, among many others—capturing them in their respective elements, from stage and studio to rehearsal spaces and their home environs. The show at Burbank’s Viva Cantina [9oo W. Riverside], opens on Thursday, December 9th, 2012 from 7-10 p.m., and features live music from friends including Intveld, Grammy nominees Eric Brace & Peter Cooper, Bliss Bowen & friends, Shawn Davis, Dusty Wakeman, Cody Bryant and others. Just confirmed to play: West coast folk-rockers DeadRock West, comprised of Cindy Wasserman and Frank Lee Drennen! This vocal duo has backed the likes of John Doe and many other Americana music heroes!
Jahnke’s colorful and compelling images were made on location in Nashville and Los Angeles, as well as other locales in between. The finished work is housed in sculptural frames comprised of tinwork, tablature and embellished wood. This is her second major showing; the first is currently still on exhibit at Nashville’s world famous Bluebird Café.
“Deone is as passionate about her art as the musicians she’s documented are about theirs,” offers Dave Alvin. “She is a superb technician, but her perceptive, honest and sensitive vision transcends the nuts and bolts of craft to give her photographs a brilliance and compassion unique in her field... Hell, she even made my beat up, old mug look good.”
“When I was seventeen years old, I snuck into a club to see the New York Dolls with a friend,” Jahnke reminisced. “My friend was taking a photography class and she photographed the show. The next morning, we went into the school darkroom so she could run the film and make prints. When the 8x10 of guitarist Sylvain Sylvain came up in the developer, I knew what I was going to do with the rest of my life. Photography and music are inseparable for me. I’m passionate about both, so making portraits with musicians and performers that show them at their best—authentic, soulful, mysterious and magical—is the most fulfilling work I do. We make these portraits in the environs they love best; the places where they create and share their music.”
About Deone Jahnke
A professional photographer for 20+ years, Jahnke is also a visual artist and writer specializing in creating memorable imagery for the arts and entertainment industry. Her clients include record labels, book and periodical publishers, music and performing arts organizations, and her work has graced the covers of international magazines, CDs and artist publicity materials. She is represented by the Cache Agency of Los Angeles and is a member of NARAS, the Americana Music Association, and the Country Music Association. She’s taught at the Julia Dean Photo Workshops and is a fierce artist advocate.
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