March 11th through May 18th, Panopticon Gallery is excited to present an exhibition of photographs revolving around music. Sight of Sound includes photographs of Blues, Rock & Roll, and Jazz with performers such as B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Joan Baez, The Flaming Lips, and many more. The exhibit features work by Ryan Mastro, Ron Pownall, Charlie Sawyer, Frank Stewart, and Ernest C. Withers.

Ryan Mastro has been photographing musicians and music festivals since 2005. His work includes photographs of many different musical artists like The White Stripes, Phish, The Flaming Lips, and Radiohead. Mastro’s photographs capture the electric intensity of a live concert environment, showcasing high-energy performers and excited crowds.

Ron Pownall has been capturing images of Rock & Roll since 1968. A darkroom summer job evolved into documenting the Democratic National Convention riots in Grant Park for the Chicago Tribune. Pownall ended up shooting for big names such as Aerosmith and Boston. His images encapsulate the essence of the Rock & Roll era, where, in his words, the music was the bottom line.

Charlie Sawyer began his Blues photographic career in 1968, the year he met B.B. King. Sawyer published the first full-length biography of B.B., eleven years after that first meeting. Charlie’s photographs include not only B.B. King but also Nina Simone, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, and many other Blues greats. He currently teaches Blues History at Harvard Extension School.

Frank Stewart grew up the stepson of a Jazz musician. Stewart’s affinity for the music goes beyond just a love of the sound, rooted deep within the African American culture. He elegantly and beautifully captures his admiration of Jazz and the culture it represents.

Ernest C. Withers documented the rise of the music scene in his hometown of Memphis Tennessee. He photographed a young B.B. King on Beale Street, Al Green (before he was Reverend Al Green), Howlin’ Wolf, Ike and Tina Turner, and a very young Elvis. Withers secured the legacy of Beale Street in spite of an era that ignored African American achievement. His powerful photographs celebrate the life and triumphs of Memphis Blues.

This exhibition pulsates with intimate experiences of Sight and Sound.

Press Release (PDF format)