ROCK 'N' ROLL BILLBOARDS
OF THE SUNSET STRIP
Photographs by Robert Landau
With the recent release of his critically acclaimed book, Rock “n” Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip, Angel City Press, (Fall 2012), Robert Landau and Photographic Traveling Exhibitions have organized a touring exhibition featuring photographs from the book. The exhibition has been presented at Schumacher Gallery. Capiltal University Columbus, OH, The Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA and the Arlington Museum of Art, Arlington, TX. Landau's Billboard photographs were also on display at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in the exhibition "Trouble in Paradise" part of the Getty's "Pacific Standard Time" initiative.
The exhibition brings to life this unique period in the history of rock and roll and the fabled Sunset Strip, whose nightclubs served as the birthplace to some of the best musicians of that era. Photos trace the early beginnings of the billboard phenomenon starting with the Doors breakthrough promotion for their first album in 1967, right up unto the advent of MTV in 80’s which signaled the demise of the era.
For a brief period of about 15 years, from the late 60’s through the 70’s and into the early 1980’s, classic rock and roll billboards dominated the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. These one of a kind, hand painted megaliths loomed over L.A.’s most legendary boulevard for a month or two at a time before being dismantled, white washed and given a new incarnation in paint. Photographer Robert Landau, still in his teens, was there to document these ephemeral pop art masterpieces.
Often adapted from existing edgy album cover art, the rock and roll billboards brought a fresh and raw energy to the L.A. urban landscape, the likes of which had not been seen before or since. The long horizontal wooden canvases reflected current trends in the world of music, graphic art and sometimes fine art, turning the strip into a veritable drive-thru art gallery. Talented commercial artists employed by the reigning billboard companies and working from small renderings vividly brought these colorful art works to life. Everyone in the rock world from the Allman Brothers and the Beatles to Neil Young and Frank Zappa were represented and super-sized on the 14 by 48 foot panels that lined the Strip in those years.
Grammy Museum, Los Angeles, CA, March 2012
"Trouble in Paradise" Exhibition
part of the Getty's "Pacific Standard Time" initiative.
The exhibition is available in a variety of sizes and formats, framed or larger mounted prints and large banners to fit many different size exhibition spaces. Text panels are provided.
Robert Landau is also available to present a 30 minute slide lecture on the subject.
For booking information please contact:
info@p-t-e.org
Tel: 310/ 397-3098
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ROBERT LANDAU
PHOTOGRAPHER
Resume
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Photography/Design, 1976
California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
BOOKS
- Rock N Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip, Angel City Press, 2012
- Hollywood Poolside, Angel City Press, 1997
- Airstreanm, Peregrine Smith Books, 1986
- Outrageous L.A., Chronicle Books, 1984
- Billboard Art, Chronicle books, 1980
EXHIBITIONS
- RRBSS Arlington Museum of Art, September 2015
- RRBSS Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA March 2015
- RRBSS Schumacher Gallery, Columbus, OH, September 2014
- RRBSS Grammy Museum, Los Angeles, CA in the exhibition "Trouble in Paradise" part of the Getty's "Pacific Standard Time" initiative, 2012
- 5th Annual Art of Photography Show, San Diego, CA 2009
-Vanishing Los Angeles, Slide Presentation, Getty Center, 2005
-Looking at Los Angeles, Book Opening Exhibition, 2004
- Shepherd’s College, Group Show, West Virginia, 1999
- Macy Pavilion Gallery, Group Show, Westchester, NY 1998
- High Desert Museum, Yucca Valley, CA, "Billboard Art," 1995
- Artspace Gallery, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Dept.,
Woodland Hills, CA, "A Look at the Los Angeles River," 1992
- Virginia Beach Ctr. for the Arts, Virginia Beach,VA, "1992
- Anderson Fine Art Ctr., Anderson IN, "Billboard Art," 1991
- Bartlesville Museum, Bartlesville, OK, "Billboard Art," 1991
- L.A. Airport & Bradley International Terminal, Permanent Display
- L.A. Art, Group Show, Ayzenberg Gallery, LA, CA,1991
- L.A. in Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1991
- ASMP - 10,000 Eyes Exhibit, L.A., CA, 1990
- American Advertising Museum, Portland, OR., Inaugural 1986
- Arco Center for Visual Art, Group Show, 1984
- Brand Gallery, Group Show, "L.A. 84," Glendale, CA, 1984
- L.A.P.A., Group Show, "24 Hours in the Life of L.A, 1984
-Oakland Museum, Permanent Collection California History,
- Tampa Museum, Tampa, FL, Group Show,"Time Out, 1983
- Mancini Gallery, One Man Show, "Altered Landscapes," 1981
-San Bernardino State College, Group Show, "Locations,"1981
- National Theatre, "Billboard Art," London, England, 1981
- Leopold-Gold Gallery, One Man Show, Color Photographs, 1980
- Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Park, 1980
-Palm Springs Desert Museum, One Man Show, 1979
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Group Show, 1978
- SoHo Cameraworks Gallery, Group Show, 1978
- Newport Harbor Art Museum, Group Show, 1977
- Arco Center for Visual Art, L.A. Inaugural Exhibit, 1976
Selected
Publications
-Nash Editions; Photography and Art of Digital Printing
-Los Angeles: The City Observed, Charles Moore
-Looking at Los Angeles, Metropolis Books
-L.A. Pop, Art and the City, Cecile Whiting
-Edward Ruscha Catalogue Raisonee Vol. II
-A Day in the Life of Hollywood
- American Photo
- Art Direction
- Avenues
- Diversion Magazine
- Forbes
- Geo
- Graphis
- Horizon
- In Style
- Los Angeles Magazine
- L.A. Style
- L.A. Times Magazine
- London Times Sunday Magazine
- Merian (Germany)
-Newsweek Magazine
-Stern Magazine (Germany)
-Time Magazine
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