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John Jenkins: The History of Rock & Roll

Presented by Blakely Bering Fine Art/Bering Art Collective (formerly Bering & James) at Blakely Bering Fine Art/Bering Art Collective (formerly Bering & James)

October 9-October 30, 2010

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Bering Art Collective is pleased to announce the opening of The History of Rock & Roll, Saturday, October 9, 2010, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the gallery, 805 Rhode Place, #500 Houston, Texas 77019. The show, featuring new works by painter John Jenkins, runs from Saturday, October 9, 2010 to Saturday, October 30, 2010.

John Jenkins brings Houston another visionary exhibition in his new series The History of Rock & Roll. Jenkins’ new works present an intricate and unique artistry of the idealized evolution of Rock & Roll. His brush strokes are palpable; deliberately ignoring the school books when translating the historical representation of Rock History. He transcribes his conceptual impressions of Rock legends and lore, amalgamating Jenkins’ intensely hypothesized interconnectedness of each canvas, hand painted electric guitars, work on paper, and denim.

John Jenkins endeavors to present an abstract history of an abstract idea and he does so brilliantly. The show is provocative and intriguing; a sight worth seeing. The exhibition’s relevance iconically begins with Jenkins’ first chord, The Tiger’s Tale/The Dragon’s Tale.

The works depict the evolutionary beginning of Rock & Roll: the fusion of European musical in#uences with roots of traditional African music. A recurring theme in The Tiger’s Tale is the presence of the “mouth,” Jenkins’ homage to storytelling; the heritage of oral tradition painted on denim cloth symbolizing the hardworking, industrious fabric of custom.

The Dragon’s Tale counters it’s former with the representation of earth and it’s sounds. The soul of Rock & Roll is symbolized herein; one can feel the African drum beat as it reverberates against the earth. The Dragon’s Tale consists of works on paper representing the spiritual aspect of sound and music. The duality of each; intense technical detail contrasted with loose lines respectively, creates the balance of North American Music; sound carried by spirit.

The second chord, the body of the exhibition, are Jenkins’ works on canvas. The evolution of ideas of Rock & Roll. Works with text and rhinestones connect idealized notions of the written word and it’s translation into sound. Follow the rhinestones in each piece and a tonal visuality will unfold.

At final, the third chord, are Jenkins’ six, meticulously hand-painted, electric guitars. Representing the physical embodiment of the “Players of Rock & Roll”; the phenomenons, musicians and songwriters. The Oracle, the first of six, the only non-Fender electric guitar, is inspired by the emerging sounds of Rock & Roll from the inception of it’s "rst musical style.

Following The Oracle, is The Maharaja, an American Fender Stratocaster, created to pay tribute to American Rock & Roll legend, Elvis Presley. The only guitar speci"cally referencing an individual and titled in Sanskrit “The Great King.”

In suite: The Laureate, (back pictured above) a Fender American Stratocaster, represents the word smith and poet; The Synesthete, a Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, depicts the occurrence of irregular sensory perception, and the altered consciousness paralleling the LSD phenomenon of the 70s music era; The Lacemaker, a Fender American Telecaster, visions the women of Rock & Roll; and The Provocateur, a Fender American Standard Stratocaster, references the “sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll” mantra of Rock and pays homage to musical artists who pushed the envelope in their musical art form.

Jenkins’ complete body of work intricately constructs and deconstructs the multi layered dimensions of Rock’s musical genre. His intense use of imagery, allegory and metaphor are demonstrative of his complex research and understanding of his subject.

To provide in depth awareness into the musical art form, Jenkins and Bering Art Collective have partnered with Little Kids Rock and will provide a portion of exhibition sales to their organization. In addition, Jenkins was invited by Fender Guitar to paint a seventh custom Stratocaster to be given to Little Kids Rock for their annual "Right to Rock" event at the B.B. King Blues Club and Grill in New York City. The event will be held on Thursday, October 21st from 6:30 - 9:30 pm. All proceeds for this event will be used to restore and revitalize music education by putting rock n' roll instruments, innovative Little Kids Rock curriculum and materials into underfunded public schools nationwide. “Right to Rock” Event Website: http:// littlekidsrock.org/events.html.  

About Little Kids Rock: Little Kids Rock is a 501 (c) (3) nonpro"t organization that transforms children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in underfunded public schools. Little Kids Rock was founded in San Francisco in 2002 by David Wish, an elementary school teacher who had grown frustrated with the lack of music education funding at his school. Today, Little Kids Rock is one of the leading nonpro"t providers of free lessons and instruments to underprivileged children in US public schools, and has served more than 100,000 students at over 1,200 schools in 24 cities nationwide. Little Kids Rock Honorary Board Members include Bonnie Raitt, Slash, Paul Simon, B.B. King, Ziggy Marley and other famous friends in the music industry. More information can be found at: www.littlekidsrock.org.