Printing Iggy, Blondie, Dylan, Lennon, Jimi and More for an Iconic Musical Exhibition

SoHo Blues ExhibitionAllan Tannenbaum, owner of SoHo Blues in New York City, is one of the foremost music photographers of his generation. Though Tannenbaum is a seasoned international photojournalist with an extremely broad portfolio, he is best known for his work documenting New York City’s nightlife and music scene in the heady days of the 1970s and early 1980s.

SoHo Blues ExhibitionTannenbaum was there at the crossroads of the British Invasion, punk and New Wave, and New York City was the epicenter of this convergence. Tannenbaum was shooting for the SoHo News at the time, capturing the most important acts of the era as they blazed their way through the local clubs: the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Ramones, Iggy Pop, Blondie, Talking Heads, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith, just to name a few, as well as a plethora of jazz and reggae acts.

Tannenbaum’s photography of this era became iconic, including the portrait work he did with John Lennon during the release of Double Fantasy in 1980, and shortly before Lennon was murdered that cold, bleak December day.

SoHo Blues Exhibit at Mr MusicheadFor Tannenbaum, the presentation is just as important as getting the capture right. His work has been featured in exhibitions across Europe and the U.S., and the medium gets the same care and detail as the message.

Tannenbaum’s most recent exhibition, the printing of which was sponsored by LexJet and Canon U.S.A., opened at Mr Musichead on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles on June 27 and runs through September 13. As the name implies, Mr Musichead is a gallery that focuses on music photography and art. The gallery’s tag is Where Music Meets Art.

SoHo Blues Exhibit at Mr Musichead
Mr Musichead gallery owner Sam Milgrom (left) with Allan Tannenbaum at the opening of his photo exhibit on June 27.

“It’s the most comprehensive exhibition of my work concentrating on music. I have had a lot of exhibitions that have been more general about life in New York City in the ’70s, but this really focuses on music,” explains Tannenbaum. “The gallery is only about music and this exhibition is only about music, so it’s unique, diverse in its content and runs the gamut of the music scene.”

Tannenbaum and Mr Musichead’s owner, Sam Milgrom, sifted through the copious body of work Tannenbaum produced in that era and narrowed it down to about 40 images, which Tannenbaum printed and framed in sizes ranging from 11″ x 14″ to 24″ x 36″.

“We went back and forth on the images. Since that’s the market Sam knows best he was very helpful in choosing which images to showcase,” says Tannenbaum. “For example, one of the images we chose was a concert shot of Iggy Pop, who just did a show in Los Angeles and is popular there. We added a shot I have of him in his hotel room in front of a background I brought with me where I used a ring flash with my Hasselblad; it really pops out at you. I told him that if you’re going to have Iggy, you have to have this one.”

Allan Tannenbaum Exhibition at Mr MusicheadOther musicians featured in the exhibition include Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, David Bowie, Debbie Harry, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, John and Yoko Lennon, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder, Sid Vicious (being arrested) and Sun Ra. In other words, a veritable who’s who among the most influential acts of their day, and for all time, really. The images for the exhibition were printed with Tannenbaum’s Canon iPF6100 on LexJet Sunset Photo eSatin Paper 300g.

“The printing went very well, thanks to LexJet and Canon. A few years ago I bought my iPF6100 and iPF8100 from LexJet, and they’re great printers, especially with the Canon Plug-In for Photoshop. In terms of getting a high-quality, nice sized image, and after experimenting with a lot of different papers, I had to come up with a standard: LexJet Sunset Photo eSatin. The galleries like the paper and the finish and it has a surface that is a lot like traditional photo paper,” says Tannenbaum. “One of my philosophies about photography is that it’s important not only to just to take great pictures, but to know how to make the image. The images hold up, even if you’re printing it large, like 30×40. There must be something in the Canon software that compensates so you don’t see any artifacts or degradation in quality at all. It’s a lot easier to compensate in the software than it is in the darkroom. And, the paper is phenomenal. When you tell people they’re digital prints, they can’t believe it. A photographer should be a good printer as well; it’s not just about taking the picture. I really enjoy making prints and seeing them on gallery walls or in people’s homes.”

To find out more about the exhibition and Mr Musichead, go to mrmusichead.com. And, for Tannenbaum’s portfolio, go to www.sohoblues.com.

Raising Awareness about Human Trafficking and Slavery through Photography and Print

Steven James Collins, a professional photographer based in San Francisco, aims to help eradicate the scourge of human trafficking and modern day slavery by raising awareness through a traveling photography exhibition that begins this Saturday, May 19, at 7 p.m. at the HourGlass Art & Wine Gallery in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Human trafficking and slavery photo exhibition
The traveling Modern Day Slavery Awareness Photo Exhibit by Steven James Collins Photography was previewed at the Oscars Gifting Suite. The Sunset Photo Metallic Paper prints were signed by celebrities who viewed the presentation at the event.

The Modern Day Slavery Awareness Photo Exhibit has been printed on LexJet Sunset Photo Metallic Paper, donated by LexJet to help support the goals of the project, and printed by Sam Hoffman on a Canon iPF8300, owner of LightSource San Francisco. The exhibit features 21 large iconic and luminescent images created by Collins to represent the horrors of human trafficking and slavery.

“Just as important as the content itself is the delivery medium on which it is displayed. We feel blessed to have found the LexJet Sunset Photo Metallic Paper as the medium,” says Collins. “The impact is exponentially greater to our viewing audience with this product. These images reach out of the paper and grab you from the first glance. And believe me, this is not just our professional opinion; the feedback we already have received of how unique and powerful the prints are on this paper has been nothing short of remarkable. We are so exceedingly happy to have LexJet Sunset Photo Metallic Paper as the visual backbone of this vital cause”

The Modern Day Slavery Awareness Photo Exhibit will be showcased at the HourGlass Art & Wine Gallery from May 19 through June 9. From there, the exhibit plans to travel to San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Angeles, New York City and Maysville, Ky., home of the National Underground Railroad Museum. Other dates and locations are being negotiated with galleries and museums across the U.S., as well as plans to take the exhibit to international venues.

It is estimated that 10 to 30 million people are in some form of slavery (debt bondage, sex slavery, child soldiers and labor slavery); 75 percent of those in bondage are female and more than 50 percent are children. Sex trafficking is the most common form of modern slavery and is the fastest growing and second-largest existing crime worldwide.

The premier of the Modern Day Slavery Awareness Photo Exhibit on Saturday, May 19 at HourGlass Art & Wine will include a press preview from 3-5 p.m., a VIP cocktail hour from 6-7 p.m., presentations by activists Dr. Ken Morris and Aaron Cohen from 8-9 p.m., as well as talks by Collins and spokesperson Shannon Johnson.

“Our team’s philosophy is rooted in the basic human need for the connection and love we feel for our families. For us, activism stems from rejoining families torn apart,” states the Team Philosophy and Goals of the exhibition. “Once you’re aware of the horrors other families are enduring, such as daughters or sons being kidnapped, raped, tortured and forced into underage sex slavery debt bondage/labor, how can we not take action?”

For more information about the traveling exhibit, how you can help, and updates on the dates and venues of future exhibitions, go to www.stevenjamescollins.com. For more information about LexJet, go to www.lexjet.com and the print provider, LightSource SanFrancisco, go to www.lightsource-sf.com.

Maxwell Dickson’s Nontraditional Approach to Art and Art Reproduction

Gallery exhibition of urban, modern art

Only little more than a year old, Los Angeles-based Maxwell Dickson is making quite the name for itself. The brainchild of entrepreneurs James Freeman and Bart Cooper, Maxwell Dickson is much more than an art reproduction studio.

Owners and founders of Maxwell Dickson, James Freeman and Bart Cooper
Maxwell Dickson founders James Freeman (left) and Bart Cooper at the Art, Libations & Sound Los Angeles exhibition of their work on Feb. 9.

The fledgling company has effectively blurred the lines of how art reaches the public, from creation to exhibition and print sales. Cooper provides the genius behind the Maxwell Dickson art brand, creating modern, urban artwork that is the mainstay of Maxwell Dickson’s line. Freeman is the brains behind the business, with a natural flair for marketing and finding the right avenues for Maxwell Dickson’s distinct style.

Freeman also prints Cooper’s paintings, which are actually “painted” on a Wacom digital tablet. Though Cooper can paint a physical canvas, his creations emerge instead on a computer screen. Freeman explains, “Digital creation allows us to work a lot faster than the traditional process of painting, scanning and printing. Plus, digital painting allows more color control and yields a piece of art that can be much more colorful. This method has also allowed us to quickly build up a large base of artwork to sell.”

Nicole Murphy hosts gallery exhibition of Maxwell Dickson art
Bart Cooper and Nicole Murphy, who hosted the Art, Libations and Sound exhibition.

The end result is a collection that is both accessible and unique. For instance, Maxwell Dickson art is sold at Overstock.com and is quite popular with a younger demographic. Overstock was not having a lot of success with in its art line with this younger demographic before the addition of Maxwell Dickson to the fold.

Freeman prints all the reproductions with a Canon iPF8300, which he bought from LexJet when he and Cooper first started the company. The primary print medium is Sunset Select Matte Canvas coated with Sunset Satin Coating, which Freeman has also been using since Maxwell Dickson opened for business.

“We install the profiles from LexJet, and that’s all we really have to do. I was amazed that it was so simple because I was under the impression that you would have to do all this color correction and buy all this software to get what you wanted out of the print,” says Freeman.

Maxwell Dickson does a smattering of inkjet reproduction work for photographers and digital artists on canvas, Sunset Photo eSatin Paper, Sunset Velvet Rag and Sunset Textured Fine Art Paper. However, the mainstay is the Maxwell Dickson art collection. Freeman likens the concept to Hallmark: “Someone designed the card, not under their name, but under Hallmark. This is not for traditional galleries, and they’re right because people going to art galleries are looking for originals. The market for art reproductions is massive. If you like the art, you can get the size you want in your room and it’s very affordable.”

Maxwell Dickson exhibition at Art, Libations & SoundThe Maxwell Dickson line was recently represented at a gala exhibition in Los Angeles on Feb. 9 hosted by Nicole Murphy – model, mother, designer and soon-to-be reality star who’s also Eddie Murphy’s ex-wife. Called Art, Libations & Sound, the exhibition drew throngs of people to the doors. “Supporting Los Angeles’ young art community is a must,” said Murphy. “I’m excited to be hosting this exhibition with such an eclectic body of work.”

Maxwell Dickson and its creative entrepreneurial pair of Freeman and Cooper are certainly going places and bringing their art to both the celebrity set and the public at large, so keep an eye on them for years to come. To get a better sense of the exhibition, beyond the photos published here, check out the video below…

High Five: LexJet’s Phoenix Distribution Center Now Shipping

Inkjet product shipment from PhoenixLexJet opened the fifth of five new distribution centers yesterday in Phoenix, bringing one-day ground delivery coverage to 90 percent of the lower 48 states and 98 of the top 100 major metropolitan areas. LexJet customers can receive same-day delivery within 30 to 50 miles of each distribution center, and pick up products at each location.

The Phoenix distribution center is located at:

4625 N. 45th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85031

You can pick up LexJet products at the distribution center until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and receive same-day delivery if you order before noon. Check with a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538 about specific product availability and to find out if you fall within the same-day and one-day coverage areas.

LexJet’s other distribution centers are located in Albany, N.Y.; Birmingham; Charlotte; Cincinnati; Dallas; Denver; Jacksonville, Fla.; Los Angeles; Kansas City; Milwaukee; Minneapolis; Portland, Ore.; Reno; and Wilmington, Del. LexJet also ships OEM products from 30 warehouses across the U.S.

For more information about the Phoenix distribution center, LexJet’s state-of-the-art logistics network and Nationwide Delivery System, call 800-453-9538.

LexJet Extends its Nationwide Delivery Network to Five More Cities in July

One day and same day shipping for large format inkjet productsWith the addition of five new distribution centers to its nationwide Delivery Network next month, LexJet will reach 90 percent of the contiguous United States and 98 of the top 100 major metropolitan areas with one-day ground delivery, and customers in LexJet’s 15 distribution center cities can receive same-day delivery within a 30-50 mile radius of those cities.

The new distribution centers – scheduled to be fully online, operating and tied into LexJet’s real-time delivery tracking system in July – are located in Charlotte, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Portland.

“On-time, consistent delivery is extremely important to our customers. It gives them a competitive edge in their markets, it helps them reduce inventory and it ensures they meet every tight deadline,” explains John Lane, LexJet’s vice president. “The addition of five distribution centers to our Nationwide Delivery Network gives our customers the reach and flexibility they need to enhance and streamline their business, whether they’re print-for-pay providers, digital photographers, fine art reproduction companies, in-house corporate and public sector large format print facilities or anyone else involved in large format inkjet production.”

The new distribution centers join LexJet facilities in Albany, N.Y., Birmingham, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, Fla., Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Reno and Wilmington, Del. LexJet also ships OEM products from 30 additional warehouses across the United States.

“I can’t count how many times LexJet has totally gone above and beyond to get us materials next-day in order for us to put out a quality product,” says Bob Lizza, owner of Lizza Studios, Tunkhannock, Pa. “The LexJet team is always there to answer questions and get us whatever we need in an expedited fashion. They’ve been a big part of our success.”

The expansion of LexJet’s Nationwide Delivery Service follows the company’s move to a new state-of-the-art technology center in Sarasota, Fla., where LexJet customers receive free and unlimited personal support and service coupled with the power of real-time networks tied directly into LexJet’s distribution centers.

For more information about LexJet’s new distribution centers, its Nationwide Delivery System, and specifics about one-day and same-delivery areas, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

Plan Ahead for Holiday Shipping: UPS and FedEx Schedules

Shipping schedules UPS FedExSure, it’s a bit early to discuss upcoming holidays since the next one that will affect shipping isn’t until the end of May (Memorial Day), but it’s always a good idea to plan ahead and know what’s coming before it’s right on top of you.

UPS and FedEX have graciously released their holiday schedules for 2011 so you know when packages can and can’t leave or arrive. Look for LexJet’s 2011 holiday schedule for its headquarters in Sarasota, its office and distribution center in Los Angeles and the other distribution centers across the country in the coming days.

Generally speaking, LexJet shipping will align with UPS and FedEx, but we’ll verify those dates for you. Here are the 2011 holiday schedules for UPS and FedEx:

UPS Holiday Schedule

FedEx Holiday Schedule