October 2003 Feature Story

SWEET HOME CHICAGO BLUES EXHIBIT at EMP

now thru Jan. 4 @ EMP, Seattle

Blues fans in the Northwest, brown and blue eyed, have a rare opportunity to see the first exhibit of its kind, “Sweet Home Chicago: Big City Blues 1946-1966”, which tells the story of a particularly prolific time period, in a particularly rich area for blues talent, as well as the earlier Mississippi roots and other influences of the genre as it evolved.
EMP curators have gathered a choice collection of blues items in their largest exhibit ever at EMP, 5,000 square footage, all under glass for you to see and even experience here in Seattle, thru January 4th, 2004, before it goes on to it’s city of origin, Chicago, Illinois for Black History Month and continuing thru June at the 2004 Chicago Blues Festival.
If you’ve always wanted to see some of the blues collectables in the world, go see this display of items. Take a look at the actual Ampex tape recorders used to record those classic Chess sides in Chicago’s prolific Post-War period that changed a world of music. See a Fender Stratocaster formerly owned by Magic Sam, plus a Guild Thunderbird S-200 formerly owned by Muddy Waters, a harmonica formerly used by Big Walter Horton, an old tattered Fender Amp formerly used by Louis Myers (on cover), Howlin’ Wolf’s Hohner Marine Band harmonica, even a Fender Stratocaster “Brownie” formerly owned by Eric Clapton. The impressions go much deeper when you can actually see the tools used to make this great music.

ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS are encouraged to bring their classes to this exciting exhibit. Lesson plans, covering a wide range of disciplines, have been developed to help educators connect the exhibit’s content to their individual course objectives. In addition, there will be blues-focused assemblies for students, as well as a teacher in-service opportunity, Teaching The Blues, on Oct. 10th, 2003. For more information on all of the educational offerings, visit emplive.com/visit/education/education.asp
EMP will also be offering a variety of programs at the museum to celebrate YOTB including Blues Guitar lessons every Monday beginning November 3rd, focusing on the basics and encouraging students to experiment improvise. Four weeks of Saturday’s engage teenagers (13-16), who bring their own instruments & talents for Rock ‘n’ Blues Teen Artist Workshops, beginning October 18th.

Beginning October 8th, look for Back-Porch Blues Films at the JBL Theatre, every Wednesday at 7pm, including the West Coast premiere of a new Howlin’ Wolf documentary on October 8th; Director Christine Dall’s Wild Women Don’t Have The Blues on October 15th; Robert Mugge’s Deep Blues on October 29th; and Pride and Joy: The Alligator Records Story, also directed by Mugge, on October 22nd; plus an archival presentation by Curtis Salgado called My Favorite Things, with anecdotes and commentaries, November 5th.

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