(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Mickey Hart, three time Grammy Award winning artist and legendary percussionist of the Grateful Dead, brings his never before seen collection of artwork to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on Friday, November 9th. With this collection, Hart paints a picture of his creative journey combining art, music, and science.
Hart was influential in recording global musical traditions on the verge of possible extinction, working with archivists and ethnomusicologists at both the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution. He is on the Board of Trustees of the American Folklife Center and has been a spokesperson for the "Save Our Sounds" audio preservation initiative. He also serves on the Library of Congress National Recorded Sound Preservation Board and is known for reissues and other recordings with historical and cultural value.
“These visual representations from my sonic-driven world are snapshots into the music I am making. The basis of all life is vibratory, from the cosmos to human organism to the rhythms of nature and the music that come from what we make, from what we call culture. These are the worlds of rhythm that envelop us on a daily basis. Understanding these rhythms is essential in our daily lives. These works have been drummed, vibrated into existence. This technique is essential in the creation of my art.” – Mickey Hart
While the world knows his musical and written endeavors, this north American art tour will showcase a side of Hart’s creative genius that is less known to the public: his fine art.
Joining the Grateful Dead in 1967 marked the beginning of a musical legacy spanning over 50 years. Alongside his work with the Grateful Dead, Hart flourished as a solo artist, producer, and author of several highly acclaimed books. In these endeavors he’s pursued a lifelong interest in ethnomusicology and in the world’s music. His travels and his interest in all things percussion-related led him to collect percussion instruments, and to collaborate with percussion masters the world over.
In 1991, Hart produced the album Planet Drum, which remained at #1 on the Billboard World Music chart for 26 weeks, and received the first ever Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.
In 1994, Mickey Hart was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Grateful Dead.
Recently Mickey has been touring with his new band, Dead & Company, to satisfy the millions of new and old deadheads who love the music more than ever.
"My story as a rhythmist is the story of rhythm and noise," said Hart. "The beginning of creation was the logical place to start. That’s what my books Drumming at the Edge of Magic and Planet Drum were all about. The beginning of THE story, beat one, the downbeat, the moment the blank page of the universe exploded creating stars, galaxies, planets, our sun, the moon, the earth—us. What did it sound like I wondered? That’s where it all started.
"Or was it the rain coming from the heavens. It beat upon my body and consciousness and was a major nature sound force and was very visual as well. These sonic and visual images from my youth were part of this discovery. If it had a sound it had to have a light. First sound/first light. Everything that has motion has a vibration. Music is controlled vibration and I believe a miniature of cosmic events from the beginning of time and space till now.
"These visual representations from my sonic-driven world are snapshots into the music I am making. The basis of all life is vibratory, from the cosmos to human organism to the rhythms of nature and the music that come from what we make, from what we call culture. These are the worlds of rhythm that envelop us on a daily basis. Understanding these rhythms is essential in our daily lives.
"I love the flow of things, to be in the moment, to experience magic. Creating visual magic is new to me. I can feel the vibrations, I can see the colors, and I become both. This mix is exotic and profound in a vibratory and sensual way for me."
A collector at heart, his writings have also documented a lifelong fascination with the history and mythology of music. Hart’s books include "Drumming at the Edge of Magic," "Planet Drum," "Spirit into Sound: The Magic of Music," and "Songcatchers: In Search of the World's Music."
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 1000 Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
