album art

ALEX STEINWEISS: CREATOR OF THE ALBUM COVER

Before Alex Steinweiss invented the album cover in 1938, at the age of 23, all albums came in plain brown wrappers. Steinweiss’s idea to create a package that had something visual on the outside to lure the consumer was a huge success.
That simple idea revolutionized the record business and spawned an entire new field of illustration – album cover art – that is now inseparable from the product it announces. Steinweiss’s covers are still regarded as icons of the genre. He designed them as miniature posters, with eye-catching graphics, distinctive and vivid colors, and creative, original typography. He was an accomplished illustrator, and he incorporated original artwork into most of his pieces. The Steinwiess style went hand in hand with the golden age of jazz, classical, and popular music.

As an addition to a show of Steinweiss’s work there will be a tribute show paying homage to his unprecedented contribution to album cover art. Steinweiss is 90 years old this year and this tribute is long over due.

OPENING RECEPTION
January 19th 2008, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Gallery C2
In the Bergamot Station Arts Center
2525 Michigan Avenue, C2
Santa Monica, CA 90404

The Steinweiss exhibition will feature 100 of his original cover designs, plus 50 original ‘tribute works, created specifically for this show. Artists that are honoring Steinweiss include: Raymond Pettibon, Shag, Ron English, Victor Gastelum, and Clive Barker. The featured artists have created album covers for a wide range of musicians, including Black Flag, Sonic Youth, Dixie Chicks, Goo Goo Dolls and Supertramp.

TRIBUTE ARTISTS:

Clive Barker
Bill Barminski
Gary Baseman
Gomez Bueno
Richard Duardo
Victor Gastelum
Raymond Pettibon
Shag
Winston Smith
Craig Stecyk

And many more…

For More Information
http://www.alexsteinweiss.com/..............check the website...lots of cool pics