Rye Arts Center Celebrates 1960's Rock and Roll

On a Sunday afternoon, a crowd of people gathered around a photograph of the The Doors, one of most popular rock bands of the 1960's, taken by photographer Henry Diltz.

Spectators reminisced and laughed as they reflected on a time in their youth at the Rye Arts Center's  exhibit, "Off the Record: Rock, A Social Revolution." The display featured photography and art and album covers from the musical era of the 1960's and 1970's.

"This era of music and creativity has to be the biggest cultural phenomenon for a baby boomer," said Maureen Amaturo, the center's co-curator. "It was the first time since Elvis that this music had a place. It affected language, graphic arts, the women's movement and it captured American culture in it's transition."

The exhibit included candid photos of rock icons, such as The Beatles, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix; album covers and posters that defined the era; a guitar signed by Carlos Santana and photographs of the famous Woodstock Festival of 1969.

The artifacts were borrowed from the Morrison Hotel Gallery in SoHo and the Avalon Archives Museum of Roots and Rock and Roll on Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster. The exhibit, which is open and free to the public from January 10 to Febuary 26, took close to a year to be created.

The exhibit attracted a diverse audience, many of whom weren't even alive during that musical era.  Though not a child of the 1960's and 1970's, Amaturo said she loved the music of the time.

"This music did not know an age limit," she said. "There are 15 and 16-year-olds going to Eric Clapton concerts and 9-year-olds are learning Beatles songs." 

Sixteen-year-old Henry Young, a fan of the Beatles and The Rolling Stones, attended the exhibit with his girlfriend, Lizzy Anita.

"Rock and Roll is the epitome of contemporary music in the 2oth century," Young said. 

Anita, 15, nodded in agreement.

"I am a big fan of the music and art of  the 60's," she said. "I really like Janis Joplin." 

Toward the end of the reception, people gathered around local band, Back to The Garden, as they sang songs from Woodstock.

People danced and bobbed their heads as the group sang "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane, a hit in 1967.

Ed Keller, a college professor at City College, enjoyed the experience.  As the band crooned,  he looked at his favorite black and white photo of The Beatles that included his brother-in-law, Andy Newmark, a drummer for John Lennon.

"It was quite an experience for him," the 64-year-old said. "I am a child of the 60's. I think this is great!"

Ned Moran, director of Avalon Archives, said the exhibit did a superb  job. He thought back as he looked at a photograph from his gallery of young, shirtless boys frolicking called Woodstock Sound Tower by Elliot Landy.

"I attended Woodstock on August 15, 16 and 17 of 1969," he said. "I will never forget it. It was happening at a time with thousands of people with the same vibe. It was about peace and love. There were no fights and two babies were born," he laughed.