Health & Fitness
"Static Noise": The Photographs of Rhona Bitner
Rhona Bitner's photographs in LISTEN tells the stories of the most popular punk rock venues on the East and West coasts.
Cal State Long Beach will be debuting the work of a West Coast photographer Rhona Bitner at the University Art Museum this month. This wonderful photographer will be showcasing her new work in
Rhona Bitner goes behind what you see at first glance and tells the stories of what was left behind. This body of work, called "Listen," focuses on the elusive and crazy world of punk rock in the 1980s. "Listen" is an ongoing project, started in 2006, that covers famous punk rock scenes in the East and West. Bitner conveys in her work that “these venues may introduce a rather immediate and/or intimate relationship with a viewer than that of mere nostalgia.”
Her photographs demonstrate well-known musical venues in a way that is not so obvious. Instead of showing her audience the actual performance, she lets them create or relive the moment. Her work sets the scene that can be filled with legends like Patti Smith and the Ramones. One of the pieces in "Listen" that was a big crowd pleaser was "CBGB." This work shows a main stage at the more than famous punk rock club in New York City.
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CBGB was intended to bring in a country and bluegrass audience at the time of its opening, but it later became one of the most popular places in New York City for new and old rock bands to perform. This piece shows an old stage covered head to toe in band stickers and graffiti.
CBGB is a time capsule in itself. Bands and fans left their mark on this legendary club and by doing so it lets the viewers relive the memories made. Bitner chose this place in particular because of its beaming history. It is hard to look at this picture and not see a crowd bobbing their heads to the songs of the rock idols that took the stage.
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All of Bitner's pieces draw you into the music scenes of the late 1970s to the 1980s. Her photographs tell stories that cannot just be told but can be seen. Her body of work is truly amazing and should definitely be on your list of things to see in 2012.
Check out all of Rhona Bitner's pieces at an opening reception Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the University Art Museum at Cal State Long Beach.