'Packaging the Music' Exhibit Displays Star Musician Images at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre Through November August 13, 2008

Talking with celebrity photographer Harrison Funk is like strolling the aisles of a vintage LP store, while listening to current iTunes.

“I’ve shot Bono, Michael Jackson, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Amy Weinhouse and Ice-T during my career, bridging the generation gap of the music industry,” Funk said.

In a new Palm Beach Photographic Centre exhibition, “Packaging the Music,” Funk’s contemporary and historical images from labels such as Sony, Motown, and Warner Records, as well as many periodicals, will be on display from August 14 through November 15. Funk has selected more than 50 of his original photographs – from album covers to posters – used in marketing, merchandising and promotion of music’s icons.

The opening reception for “Packaging the Music” will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. August 22 at the Centre, 55 NE Second Avenue in Delray Beach, and is open to the public. The event will feature a live performance by Here II Here, a world music/Latin band out of Miami that Funk discovered and whose images are included in the exhibit.

For “Packaging the Music,” Funk specifically chose photographs that were used to make a statement about the music in order to market the musician and the band. Following are Funk’s memories about some of the exhibit’s photos:

The Red Hot Chili Peppers in war paint: “I took an editorial shot for Rolling Stone’s (magazine) for ‘Random Notes’ in the mid-1980s. I believe the photo is of the original incarnation of the band backstage at the Ritz in New York. They knew (the shoot) was happening, and that they were going to be in war paint on stage. It was just them being fun; they were cooperative, very cool and completely uninhibited.”

Bono’s portrait, sans glasses: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen another portrait of Bono without his shades. We were back stage at the Amnesty International concert at Giants’ Stadium in the Meadowlands, NJ. He was sitting for me, looking over to talk to someone else. He took his glasses off, and I liked that he was looking off to the side.”

Michael Jackson: “Michael changed the face of the industry by creating through collaboration. It was very interesting to see the conglomeration of people he brought together because of his music. Having been around the world with him (as his photographer during the 1980s-90s), I saw audiences that didn’t even speak the same language express how much they loved him. He is one of the most amazingly talented people I’ve had the opportunity to work with, and he has transcended all styles of music. A homage to Michael will definitely be in the show.”

Born in New York, Funk shot his first professional assignment at 17 years old. Beginning in news and sports, his career later turned towards fashion, entertainment and advertising and has allowed him to work in still photography, and as a director of music videos and film. Respected media outlets, such as LIFE, Time, Newsweek and USA Today, have featured his work, and his subjects have ranged from rock-n-roll legend David Bowie to rap founders Grand Master Flash and the Sugar Hill Gang.

He has served as Executive Vice President and Creative Director of Outwest Records, an independent record label, and Creative Director of London-based Blink Magazine. Funk has lectured in the U.S. and Europe and taught classes on photography, most recently at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre.

About the Palm Beach Photographic Centre: The Palm Beach Photographic Centre is a non-profit visual arts organization founded 20 years ago by Art and Fatima NeJame. The Centre is dedicated to the enrichment of life through exhibitions, community programs, workshops and educational activities that promote the arts of photography and digital imaging. The Centre is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Admission to the galleries is $3. Admission fee varies for different events, and pre-registration is required for seminars, FOTOshoots and computer labs. Contact the Centre, 55 NE Second Avenue, at (561) 276-9797 or visit www.fotofusion.org.

Official Website: http://www.fotofusion.org/