The Crafters' Way 100 - Taken By Storm

Here is this week's Messenger column and I've been able to include all the photos Artisan supplied.

And now for something completely different. Artisan is currently exhibiting works by Storm Thorgerson. Who? I hear you ask. If I asked you to cast your mind back to your vinyl record collection, I’m sure many of you owned a copy of the Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Storm Thorgerson designed the now iconic album cover.

When you go to a modern art exhibition it would be a rare thing if you were familiar with every piece of artwork. At Taken by Storm not only are you familiar with the artworks and the bands but you are getting to see his art the way he would prefer. Thorgerson was not a fan of the 12 inch record album cover, an art format he considered unflexible. At the exhibition opening Matt Coyte, the Editor of Australian Rolling Stone Magazine, commented “what would he think of today’s thumbnails”.

When viewing the full sized artworks it becomes apparent how incredible these images are. Keep in mind that most of these album covers were designed and photographed long before digital cameras and photo enhancement programs were available. You will find yourself wondering how did he do that? Anthrax-Stomp 442 is a notable exception. While the large ball of scrap metal is real the picture was digitally remastered. Storm Thorgerson explains the ball was hung by a crane and rotated onsite into four correct but different positions to make up the whole ball before being photographed. The four separate photographs were them joined together using the computer.

I went to the opening of this exhibition unsure of what to expect. I’m so glad that I went. Not only did I get to see Pink Floyd album covers but artwork designed for Genesis, Led Zeppelin, 10CC. Just quietly there were also works for bands that I had never heard of but the art was inspiring just the same. This is an exhibition that art lovers and music buffs can enjoy together.

Taken By Storm continues at Artisan until the 1st of August. Artisan is at 381 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley email info@artisan.org.au