This article appeared in the Feb. 12, 2003 Cambridge Chronicle

Multimedia Art Exhibit

Features Work of Local Musicians

By Susie Davidson

CORRESPONDENT

Art will straddle genres this Saturday at Zeitgeist as many of Boston’s most notable musicians display their visual sides in “Between Rock and an Art Place.” Leaving the stage, the songs, and the bandmates behind, participants, unconstrained by audience or record label expectation, recording studio or concert hall logistics, time length or playlists, will exhibit individual works of diverse media and limitless scope.

Paintings, cartoons, sculpture, pillows, furniture, video, photography and graphic design will be among the creative representations offered by the group, in a stereotype-defying opportunity to experience even more of what these crowd-pleasers are capable of.

The show, which will run from Feb. 12 through March 2 with a Feb. 15 opening reception from 6:30-9 p.m., will include works by Mikey Welsh, Asa Brebner, Jonathan Richman, Adam Sherman, Willie Alexander, Cynthia von Buhler, Robin Lane, Jeff Hudson, Jane Hudson, Reeves Gabrels, Wayne Viens, Dana Colley, Joey Pesce, Steve Morel, Roger Miller, Mark Dwinell, Ironlung, Scott Getchell, Doug Slade, Billy Borgioli and Peter Wolf.

Groups they hail from include Weezer, J. Geils Band, Robin Lane and The Chartbusters, Scissorfight, Mission of Burma, The Modern Lovers, Morphine, The Rentals, Til Tuesday, The Countess and more. But this is a whole other thing, and for some, an even more rewarding one.

“Art is so different than touring and playing on stage with bandmates,” said Welsh. “This is more individual.”

The Brookline native, who played bass for Juliana Hatfield’s road band and later for rock stars Weezer, has turned to painting of late as an artistic outlet. His December, 2002 Paradise Rock Club show, Infections, which debuted its art gallery, showcased 50 of his works, in acrylics, oils and mixed media. Welsh’s paintings incorporate, along with words and numbers, bold themes and adventurous strokes of vivid color reminiscent of Basquiat and Picasso. He likened the exhibit’s name to his conception of painting as a compelling obsession, a disease of sorts. Raised by his mother, a classically trained painter, he has returned to the area following the Weezer stint, and currently resides in Cambridge.

Roger Miller, of The Alloy Orchestra, The Binary System, and Mission of

Burma, has five pieces in the show. “My drawings are inspired by the innovative ‘frottage,’ or rubbing, technique of the surrealist/dadaist painter Max Ernst,” he explained. “Besides showing five of my drawings, I will be performing loosely composed electric guitar pieces, with loops and electronics, using four of the drawings as the ‘scores’ for the music,” he added.

Miller will effect this venture with an “elemental guitar’ arrangement consisting of electric guitar, looping machine, preparations and electronic modifications. He will, in essence, perform four of his drawings, as surfaces in their environment are rubbed to produce compositions. The drawings will be on sale at the show, accompanied by a CD individually tailored to each one.

Keyboardist, guitarist, composer, and songwriter Miller began his musical career in the late 60s psychedelic band Sproton Layer, which he formed with his brothers Larry and Ben. He is best known for his work in the seminal post-punk band Mission of Burma, which reunited last year in an enormously successful national and U.K. tour. Following Burma’s initial 1983 breakup, he formed the free-form instrumental group Birdsongs of the Mesozoic with bandmate Martin Swope. In the Binary System, he plays piano with drummer Larry Dersch; The Alloy Orchestra, where he joins percussionist Ken Winokur and accordion player, percussionist and vocalist Terry Donohue, composes soundtracks to vintage silent films.

Additional musical performances will be given by Jane and Jeff Hudson, Willie Alexander, Dana Colley, Ted Drozdowski, Adam Sherman, Joey Pesce, Mark Dwinell and Steve Morrell.

Most of the contributing artists will be in attendance at the opening.  

“When I was a kid, I dreamed of being a rock star,” said Welsh. “Now it’s more satisfying to finish a painting than to play in front of 20,000 people every night.”

“Between Rock and an Art Place”, A Group Show Celebrating Art by Musicians, runs Feb. 12 through March 2 at The Zeitgeist Gallery, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, with gallery hours1-7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Opening reception is Feb. 15, 6:30-9 p.m. This show is co-sponsored by Boston Magazine. For more information, visit www.zeitgeist-gallery.org, email ami.bennitt@verizon.net or call 617-876-7363.