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A Celebration of the Iron Road

Railways have inspired artists for many years. While the arrival of a train was depicted in an 1872 Japanese woodcut block and, five years later, in a  Claude Monet  painting, others focused on problems. Third-class train travelers, for instance, had little room to maneuver. And in the early days, everyone had to contend with smoky conditions caused by coal-burning boilers.  The aforementioned appears in  The Rise of the Railroad - How Trains Changed the World , and so do promotional posters, an attractive postage stamp commemorating mountain locomotives, and loads of photos. The latter really bring history to life, starting with a horse-drawn line in Austria. Others range from railway employees offering a demonstration of hand signals to the interior of a Budapest underground station, illuminated by a glazed dome.  The author is  Christian Wolmar , whose source material includes his own series of railroad history books. His next book will be  Fast Tra...
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May's Music Icons Auction

Ne xt month--on the 29th and 30th of May-- Julien 's   Music Icons  auction will take place.  There are over 700 lots, with personal items and instruments from  Mick Mars, Lita Ford, Bill Ward, Dave Mustaine ,  B.B. King , and others. One of the main attractions is  Ace Frehley 's 1975  Gibson Les Paul , as it's expected to fetch at least half a million dollars.  Another highlight is a jumpsuit, originally a silver/white number owned by  Arthur Kane  of the  New York Dolls . But he gave the jumpsuit to Ace, who dyed it purple before wearing it on stage. Folks in London can enjoy a preview at the  Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly   Circus  through April 13. Two weeks later, the items will be exhibited at the  Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo .  The main event is to be at New York's  Hard Rock Cafe Times Square , where fans can check out the memorabilia from the 13th of May. Starting April 27, online bids will be accepted. ...
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Iconic Images

Gered Mankowitz   has been a photographer for over six decades. While he has worked in advertising and taken promotional shots of movie stars, the 79-year-old is best known for his collaborations with the likes of  Elton John , the  Yardbirds , and  Kate Bush . He has also taken pictures of  Annie Lennox , whose foreword appears in  the new book, Photographs , out next month. According to the publisher, this is the most comprehensive collection of Mankowitz imagery in book form, and includes rare and never-before-seen photographs. In addition, there are recollections from  Dave Stewart. Noddy Holder ,  Susie Quatro , and Mankowitz himself. And through the 27th of July, the artist's works can be seen at London's  ME Hotel , in conjunction with the  Iconic Images  gallery.
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The World of Clouds

Have you heard of 'skying'? That's the term landscape painter   John   Constable   came up with when he observed and painted clouds. According to  Susan E Clark 's   Clouds: A Guide For The Curiou s , he produced over a hundred such works. There are quite a few pictures, too, in Clark's book, One of the most memorable features a diamond. It's an illustration of the phenomenon known as diamond dust, but actually composed of glittering eye crystals. The  Evi-O Studio' s other contributions don't hold up so well. Lacunosus clouds, for instance, are supposed to resemble fishing nets, while cirrus clouds are considered ''ethereal.'' Yet these are lackluster, and don't even resemble clouds.  More impressive is  Cloud World . It was created by the late  Maynard Dixon , considered ''the premier artist of the American West'' by many collectors.  The art is now on display in Denver, Colorado. Check out  https://www. denver...
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''Past Continous''

New York's  Metropolitan Museum of Art  has announced a joint show of husband-and-wife Abstract Expressionists.  This will be the city's first presentation dedicated to either  Jackson   Pollock  or  Lee Krasner  in over two decades--as well as the first joint show anywhere to cover the entirety of their careers, not just the time they were together.  There will be over 120 paintings, works on paper, and ephemera. with a portion from the Met's own collection.  Lee and Jackson met as emerging artists in New York in 1941. While Pollock's reputation historically eclipsed Krasner's, both artists' practices are now recognized as being central to the innovations of art from the mid-20th century onwards. ''This project affirms Krasner  and Pollock not only are defining figures of their moment, but as artists whose work continues to shape and inspire future generations,'' stated Met CEO  Max Hollein . The exhibition opens on the f...
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Rock Legend's New Project

Peter Frampton   has announced his first album of original material in 16 years.  Carry The Light  was written with his son, Julian, a singer, producer and voice-over artist. Among those making guest appearances are  Graham Nash, Sheryl Crow ,  Tom Morello , and  H.E.R . Peter is previewing the album with the new track,  Buried Treasure . It features  Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers  keyboardist  Benmont   Tench . Buried Treasure  is named after a  SiriusXM  radio show hosted by the late leader of the  Heartbreakers . Peter asked Benmont to play because he wanted the song to have an authentic  Heartbreakers  sound. According to Frampton's  Instagram page ,  Carry The Light  will be released on the 15th of May.
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Rhino's RSD Celebration

Many music fans are looking forward to the return of   Record Store   Day   on the 18th of April. That includes the folks at  Rhino , offering their most eclectic collection yet. One option is  Van Halen Live in New Haven, CT 1986 . It features  Sammy Hagar  and will be the first time the concert is available on vinyl.  Also previously unreleased are outtakes of  The Doors '  When the   Music's Over . This is part of a transparent turquoise disc called  Strange Days 1967: A Work in Progress, Part 2  (the first portion came out last year). Other  Rhino  offerings include greatest and acoustic hits from  The   Cure ;  John Prine 's  BBC  radio performances; and rarities from  The   Stranglers --not to mention releases from  Madonna, Foreigner, Motorhead, Paramore, Steely Dan, Stone Temple Pilots, Joni Mitchell , and  Third Eye Blind . Visit ...
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